How to say it
BRY · son
ˈbraɪ.sən
Masculine
Bryson
Son of Brice
What it means
Welsh surname meaning 'son of Brice' (Brice being a Welsh form of Brittonic Briccus, possibly 'speckled'). Bryson DeChambeau (PGA golfer) and Bill Bryson (the travel writer, Bryson as surname) anchor the modern usage.
Bryson is a Welsh surname meaning 'son of Brice.' The personal name Brice came from a Brittonic root Briccus, possibly meaning 'speckled' or 'freckled.' Saint Brice was a 5th-century Bishop of Tours who succeeded Saint Martin. The surname has been used in Wales and the American South for centuries. Bill Bryson (the American-British travel writer, A Walk in the Woods, Notes from a Small Island) is the strongest English-language anchor (Bryson as surname). PGA golfer Bryson DeChambeau is the modern first-name reference. As a first name Bryson surged in the US in the 1990s and 2000s. It's been in the US top 200 since 2003.
How to spell Bryson
The standard spelling is Bryson. Common variants include Brycen, Brysen, but Bryson is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #86 in 2017, currently #152 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Bill Bryson the travel writer (A Walk in the Woods, Notes from a Small Island) is the strongest cultural anchor; Bryson DeChambeau the PGA golfer is the modern first-name reference.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Bill Bryson American-British travel writer, A Walk in the Woods (Bryson as surname)
- Bryson DeChambeau American PGA golfer, two-time US Open champion
Spelling variants
- Brycen
- Brysen
Names with the same feeling
See Bryson from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Bryson mean?
- Welsh surname meaning 'son of Brice' (Brice being a Welsh form of Brittonic Briccus, possibly 'speckled'). Bryson DeChambeau (PGA golfer) and Bill Bryson (the travel writer, Bryson as surname) anchor the modern usage.
- What does Bryson mean in Welsh?
- In Welsh, Bryson means "Son of Brice." Bryson is a Welsh surname meaning 'son of Brice.' The personal name Brice came from a Brittonic root Briccus, possibly meaning 'speckled' or 'freckled.' Saint Brice was a 5th-century Bishop of Tours who succeeded Saint Martin. The surname has been used in Wales and the American South for centuries. Bill Bryson (the American-British travel writer, A Walk in the Woods, Notes from a Small Island) is the strongest English-language anchor (Bryson as surname). PGA golfer Bryson DeChambeau is the modern first-name reference. As a first name Bryson surged in the US in the 1990s and 2000s. It's been in the US top 200 since 2003.
- How do you pronounce Bryson?
- Bryson is pronounced ˈbraɪ.sən. Say it as BRY-son, with the stress on the "bry" syllable.
- How do you spell Bryson?
- The standard spelling is Bryson. Common spelling variants include Brycen, Brysen.
- Is Bryson a boy or girl name?
- Bryson is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Bryson?
- Bryson ranked #152 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.