Brandon
Brandon comes from the Old English "brōm" (broom, the plant) and "dūn" (hill) — meaning "broom-covered hill," or alternatively from "brant" (steep) and "dūn" (hill) — "steep hill." The name began as a surname referring to someone from such a place. As a first name, Brandon is modern — essentially a late-20th-century coinage. Brandon entered the US top 1000 in 1950 and rocketed. It was a top-50 name from 1977 to 2001, peaking at #26 in 1992. The peak was so concentrated that Brandon now reads as definitively 1980s-90s. Brandon Lee (1965-1993), the actor and martial artist who died on the set of "The Crow," was the most tragic modern bearer. Brandon Flowers (born 1981), the lead singer of the Killers, gave the name a contemporary charge. I find Brandon has a slightly formal quality — the "Br" opening is firm, and the "on" ending gives it a slightly masculine echo. The name has been outside the US top 200 since 2016. Brandon is a male name of Old English (place name) origin that means "Beacon hill". 80s-90s, formal, and approachable. The name sounds friendly. Brandons tend to be confident. US peaked #26 in 1992. Now top 200. Well-known people named Brandon include Brandon Lee (actor), Brandon Flowers (singer), Brandon (English place name), Brandon (fictional, various). Common variations and related forms of Brandon include Branden (variant), Brandan (variant), Brandyn (modern), Brand (short form).