Total births
3,013
Unisex name · since 1983
Brighton
3,013 babies named Brighton in U.S. Social Security records since 1983, with the highest year being 2012. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- #1989
- among boys today
- 3,013
- born since 1983
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 86%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Brighton is the #1989 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 3,013 recorded since 1983.
Social Security Administration records show Brighton recorded 3,013 times among boys since 1983, holding rank #1989 nationally today, ahead of 86% of boys, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1983 to 2025.
- #1989 among boys today
- 3,013 born since 1983
- 2010s peak decade
- 86% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Brighton is currently the #1989 unisex name in America, more common than 86% of boys - 3,013 born since 1983, peaking in the 2010s.
- #1989
- among boys today
- 3,013
- born since 1983
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 86%
- more common than other boys
Brighton vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#1989
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 86% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
44% of everyone ever named Brighton was born in this single decade.
2012
Single peak year
157 babies were named Brighton in 2012 - its busiest year on record.
How Brighton compares
3,013 Top 17% higher than 83% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Brighton's all-time total is 8x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Brighton | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 3,013 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 157 | 23 | 22,252 |
Brighton's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Brighton splits its recorded history at 2006: 79% of all births land in the more recent half, 21% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1984 (5 births) -- compare that against the 2012 peak of 157 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Brighton at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2012
Current rank
#1,989
Active since
1983
Brighton popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1983–2025
- Peak year (2012)
- 157
- Annual births at peak, across 43 years of records
Brighton popularity over time - girls
2,148 total births recorded since 1986 (Brighton as girls' name)
Brighton by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Brighton's strongest decade.
1,312 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 44% of all-time use.
Brighton births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s 27
1980s
27 births
- 1990s 239
1990s
239 births
- 2000s
2000s
865 births
- 2010s
2010s
1,312 births
- 2020s
2020s
570 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 1,312 births (44% of all-time use).
How Brighton compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Brighton's total volume
Brighton vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Brighton by state
Where Brighton concentrates geographically, total births since 1983
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Utah | | 257 | 8.5% |
| #2 | Texas | | 206 | 6.8% |
| #3 | California | | 190 | 6.3% |
| #4 | Florida | | 108 | 3.6% |
| #5 | Washington | | 65 | 2.2% |
| #6 | Ohio | | 62 | 2.1% |
| #7 | Michigan | | 55 | 1.8% |
| #8 | North Carolina | | 48 | 1.6% |
Utah share of Brighton's total US births 8.5%
Even split
257 of 3,013 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 26 reporting states.
Brighton appears in 26 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Brighton? ▼
Brighton has been given to 3,013 babies in the U.S. since 1983, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #1989 as of the latest data. 157 babies were born in 2012, its single highest year.
When was Brighton most popular? ▼
Brighton was most popular in the 2010s decade with 1,312 total births. The single peak year was 2012.
Where is Brighton most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Brighton are Utah (257 births), Texas (206 births), California (190 births).
Is Brighton a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Brighton is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 3,013 births, and as a girl's name it has 2,148 births.
How long has the name Brighton been used? ▼
Records for Brighton go back to 1983, giving 43 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Brighton? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Brian, Brice, Briggs, Bridger, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Brighton's data
- Brighton's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (1,312 total births) through the 2020s (570) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Utah records the most Brightons (257 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Utah names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Brighton
Nearby Names Like Brighton
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Brighton
Brian Boy
#302 1,173,735 births
Brice Boy
#2446 15,737 births
Briggs Boy
#327 9,377 births
Bridger Boy
#790 6,873 births
Briar Boy
#698 6,347 births
Compare Brighton side by side: Brighton vs Brian Brighton vs Brice Brighton vs Briggs
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Brighton
Calder #1988
2,166 births · Peak 2016
Braylin #1990
3,147 births · Peak 2011
Manolo #1987
1,524 births · Peak 2025
Konnor #1991
5,767 births · Peak 2012
Shulem #1986
1,584 births · Peak 2023
Yariel #1992
2,028 births · Peak 2010
Jed #1985
8,945 births · Peak 1978
Fischer #1993
2,158 births · Peak 2015
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1983–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Brighton: #1989 Unisex Name - 3,013 Births, Peak 2012." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/brighton. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Brighton draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.