Brenda

Brenda is an English feminine name most likely derived from the Old Norse word brandr, meaning sword or torch, suggesting a connection to the Viking settlers of Scotland and northern England. It may have originated as a feminine form of the masculine Scandinavian name Brand or Brandt. The name gained wider popularity after Sir Walter Scott used it for a character in his 1822 novel The Pirate, set in the Shetland Islands, where Norse influence on naming was historically strong. Related forms include Brendan, an Irish masculine name that shares a similar sound but has a distinct Celtic origin.