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Name Origin

Brian is a masculine given name of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name 'Briain'. It traditionally means 'strong', 'noble', or 'virtuous'.

irishgaelicmasculinestrengthnobilityvirtue

Famous People

Brian Wilson (1942-)

Musician, Songwriter, Producer

  • Co-founder and primary songwriter of The Beach Boys

Brian May (1947-)

Musician, Astrophysicist

  • Lead guitarist of the rock band Queen
  • PhD in astrophysics from Imperial College London
  • Knighted for services to music and charity

Brian Cox (1968-)

Particle physicist, Science communicator

  • Professor of particle physics at the University of Manchester
  • Presenter of popular science documentaries for the BBC

Brian Eno (1948-)

Musician, Composer, Producer

  • Pioneer of ambient music
  • Collaborated with numerous artists including David Bowie and U2
  • Influential figure in the development of electronic music

Brian Blessed (1936-)

Actor

  • Known for his booming voice and Shakespearean roles
  • Appeared in numerous films and television series including Flash Gordon and Blackadder

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