Quick answer
Brenda is a girl name meaning "fire, torch, sword".
Meaning and history
Feminine form of the Old Norse name Brandr, meaning "fire, torch, sword", which was brought to Britain in the Middle Ages. Walter Scott used it for one of the central characters in his novel The Pirate (1821). It has been a common name only since the 20th century, first in Britain, then rapidly climbing the charts in the United States in the 1930s. It may have been buoyed by the fame of the American socialite Brenda Frazier (1921-1982). This name is sometimes used as a feminine form of Brendan.
Notes and context
Usage: english