Brice is a masculine given name of French origin. It is derived from the Germanic word "Brihtic," which means "strength" or "power." The name was introduced into France by the Normans, who were of Norse descent and brought many Germanic names with them.
The name Brice has been used in France since at least the Middle Ages. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Saint Brice, a bishop of Tours in the 5th century AD. According to legend, Saint Brice was martyred for his faith during a time of persecution under the Roman Empire.
The name Brice has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. In France, there have been several kings and nobles named Brice, including Briecharius, a king of the Franks in the 6th century AD, and Brice II, count of Tours in the 9th century AD. In more recent times, Brice Hortefeux is a French politician who served as Minister of the Interior from 2007 to 2010.
The name Brice has also been used in other parts of Europe and beyond. In Britain, there was a King Brude of the Picts in the 6th century AD. In Spain, there have been several historical figures named Brice, including Saint Brice of Saragossa, who was martyred during the Moorish occupation of Spain.
Today, Brice is still used as a given name for boys in France and other French-speaking countries, as well as in other parts of Europe and beyond. It remains a popular choice among parents looking for a strong, traditional name with a rich history and meaning behind it.
Based on the statistics provided, it is clear that the name Brice has seen varying popularity in the United States over the past several decades.
The name first appeared in the top 1000 baby names list in 1973 with only six births recorded that year. It then fluctuated in popularity over the next decade, with a peak of ten births in 1981 and a low of five births in both 1988 and 1992.
However, starting from 1993, there was a significant increase in the number of babies named Brice. That year saw sixteen births, which doubled to thirty-one in 1994. This trend continued into the next few years, with thirty-three births recorded in 1995 and twenty births in 1996.
The name remained relatively popular throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, with a high of thirty-one births in 1998 and a low of nine births in 2001. However, it began to decline in popularity again after that point.
Between 2006 and 2015, the number of babies named Brice hovered around ten to fifteen per year, before dropping back down to five or six births annually from 2013 onwards.
Overall, a total of 378 children were named Brice in the United States between 1973 and 2022. While it has not consistently been one of the most popular names, it has nonetheless been chosen by many parents for their sons over this period. It will be interesting to see how its popularity continues to evolve in the coming years.