Fun Facts About the Name Bradley
- An established favorite: Bradley held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 38 consecutive years, from 1960 through 1997.
- More than 314 thousand babies named Bradley: U.S. records list 314,943 babies given the name Bradley from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,949 girls received the name Bradley - about 1 girl for every 161 boys.
What Does the Name Bradley Mean?
Bradley is an English name meaning "broad wood" or "broad clearing." It comes from the Old English elements brād, "broad," and lēah, which could mean "wood," "clearing," or "meadow." The name began as a place name describing a broad stretch of woodland or open land. As a personal name, Bradley is a transferred use of the English surname that arose from those places.
Bradley Name History & Origins
Bradley comes from English place names. Several villages and parishes in England are called Bradley, including places in Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Hampshire, Staffordshire, Wiltshire, and West Yorkshire. These place names use the same Old English elements, brād and lēah, and they describe a broad wood or clearing. From such places came the surname Bradley, which is found in medieval English records. When families moved, the surname traveled with them, and in the English-speaking world it eventually became a first name as well.
A notable literary use is Bradley Headstone in Charles Dickens's Our Mutual Friend (1864 - 65). This is a fictional use of the name, not its earliest occurrence; the surname was already long established. In Ireland, Bradley can also be an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Brolcháin, but the common English given name comes from the English place-name surname described above.
How Popular is the Name Bradley?
Bradley remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1960 to 1997. Its highest annual birth count was in 1980, and people born that year turn 46 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,994 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 2024 | #3,078 | 52 | 0.0032% |
| 2023 | #3,283 | 49 | 0.0031% |
| 2022 | #2,765 | 62 | 0.0038% |
| 2021 | #2,895 | 58 | 0.0035% |
| 2020 | #3,345 | 46 | 0.0028% |
| 2019 | #3,047 | 53 | 0.0032% |
| 2018 | #3,298 | 48 | 0.0028% |
| 2017 | #3,252 | 49 | 0.0028% |
| 2016 | #2,908 | 58 | 0.0033% |
| 2015 | #3,217 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 2014 | #3,600 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 2013 | #4,664 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2012 | #7,875 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2011 | #7,858 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2010 | #8,797 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2009 | #8,981 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2008 | #12,768 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #9,642 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2006 | #8,805 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2005 | #6,870 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2004 | #6,006 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2003 | #8,602 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #7,101 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2001 | #8,856 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2000 | #5,978 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1999 | #5,938 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1998 | #4,650 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1997 | #6,905 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #4,606 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1995 | #4,364 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1994 | #5,473 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1993 | #5,706 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1992 | #5,077 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1991 | #3,831 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1990 | #5,320 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1989 | #3,905 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1988 | #3,318 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1987 | #1,992 | 56 | 0.0032% |
| 1986 | #2,120 | 50 | 0.0029% |
| 1985 | #2,602 | 37 | 0.0022% |
| 1984 | #1,888 | 56 | 0.0033% |
| 1983 | #2,668 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 1982 | #2,187 | 46 | 0.0027% |
| 1981 | #2,269 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 1980 | #2,017 | 52 | 0.0031% |
| 1979 | #2,800 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 1978 | #2,310 | 39 | 0.0025% |
| 1977 | #2,525 | 34 | 0.0022% |
| 1976 | #2,736 | 28 | 0.0019% |
| 1975 | #2,458 | 32 | 0.0022% |
| 1974 | #2,624 | 28 | 0.0019% |
| 1973 | #3,132 | 21 | 0.0014% |
| 1972 | #2,689 | 26 | 0.0017% |
| 1971 | #2,484 | 30 | 0.0018% |
| 1970 | #2,864 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1969 | #2,460 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 1968 | #2,797 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1967 | #3,358 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1966 | #3,050 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1965 | #3,160 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1964 | #3,895 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #4,042 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1962 | #4,564 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1961 | #4,572 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1960 | #5,221 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #3,114 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | #4,220 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #4,570 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1955 | #5,278 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1954 | #5,823 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1953 | #4,632 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #5,378 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #4,730 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1947 | #5,385 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1920 | #4,459 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #403 | 794 | 0.0465% |
| 2024 | #364 | 906 | 0.0528% |
| 2023 | #359 | 907 | 0.0531% |
| 2022 | #345 | 951 | 0.0545% |
| 2021 | #313 | 1,074 | 0.0614% |
| 2020 | #273 | 1,236 | 0.0716% |
| 2019 | #253 | 1,441 | 0.0804% |
| 2018 | #247 | 1,495 | 0.0823% |
| 2017 | #230 | 1,648 | 0.0891% |
| 2016 | #197 | 2,054 | 0.1083% |
| 2015 | #173 | 2,402 | 0.1253% |
| 2014 | #183 | 2,329 | 0.1213% |
| 2013 | #176 | 2,330 | 0.1232% |
| 2012 | #169 | 2,299 | 0.1212% |
| 2011 | #178 | 2,159 | 0.1137% |
| 2010 | #185 | 1,995 | 0.1040% |
| 2009 | #196 | 1,951 | 0.0984% |
| 2008 | #201 | 1,953 | 0.0957% |
| 2007 | #194 | 2,075 | 0.1000% |
| 2006 | #188 | 2,137 | 0.1040% |
| 2005 | #173 | 2,409 | 0.1206% |
| 2004 | #176 | 2,308 | 0.1163% |
| 2003 | #165 | 2,394 | 0.1212% |
| 2002 | #149 | 2,644 | 0.1362% |
| 2001 | #145 | 2,729 | 0.1405% |
| 2000 | #131 | 3,017 | 0.1536% |
| 1999 | #104 | 3,576 | 0.1862% |
| 1998 | #101 | 3,795 | 0.1986% |
| 1997 | #94 | 4,124 | 0.2188% |
| 1996 | #83 | 4,756 | 0.2511% |
| 1995 | #78 | 4,764 | 0.2503% |
| 1994 | #83 | 4,678 | 0.2421% |
| 1993 | #73 | 5,135 | 0.2618% |
| 1992 | #72 | 5,098 | 0.2552% |
| 1991 | #67 | 5,723 | 0.2833% |
| 1990 | #65 | 6,436 | 0.3133% |
| 1989 | #58 | 6,977 | 0.3487% |
| 1988 | #57 | 7,017 | 0.3666% |
| 1987 | #56 | 6,916 | 0.3704% |
| 1986 | #54 | 7,043 | 0.3825% |
| 1985 | #53 | 7,012 | 0.3794% |
| 1984 | #53 | 6,568 | 0.3639% |
| 1983 | #52 | 6,738 | 0.3759% |
| 1982 | #51 | 6,978 | 0.3845% |
| 1981 | #50 | 6,896 | 0.3850% |
| 1980 | #51 | 7,209 | 0.4041% |
| 1979 | #47 | 6,926 | 0.4023% |
| 1978 | #53 | 6,096 | 0.3713% |
| 1977 | #49 | 6,431 | 0.3913% |
| 1976 | #51 | 5,978 | 0.3810% |
| 1975 | #52 | 5,894 | 0.3775% |
| 1974 | #58 | 5,173 | 0.3290% |
| 1973 | #62 | 4,747 | 0.3046% |
| 1972 | #61 | 4,839 | 0.2984% |
| 1971 | #58 | 5,781 | 0.3269% |
| 1970 | #47 | 6,819 | 0.3669% |
| 1969 | #53 | 6,391 | 0.3574% |
| 1968 | #57 | 4,803 | 0.2763% |
| 1967 | #66 | 4,342 | 0.2490% |
| 1966 | #68 | 4,555 | 0.2554% |
| 1965 | #72 | 4,787 | 0.2573% |
| 1964 | #77 | 4,960 | 0.2489% |
| 1963 | #82 | 4,765 | 0.2346% |
| 1962 | #87 | 4,636 | 0.2241% |
| 1961 | #87 | 4,742 | 0.2233% |
| 1960 | #90 | 4,745 | 0.2226% |
| 1959 | #103 | 4,050 | 0.1897% |
| 1958 | #108 | 3,734 | 0.1759% |
| 1957 | #107 | 3,528 | 0.1635% |
| 1956 | #103 | 3,519 | 0.1664% |
| 1955 | #107 | 3,183 | 0.1545% |
| 1954 | #106 | 3,240 | 0.1589% |
| 1953 | #118 | 2,763 | 0.1401% |
| 1952 | #141 | 2,046 | 0.1053% |
| 1951 | #145 | 1,811 | 0.0962% |
| 1950 | #152 | 1,632 | 0.0912% |
| 1949 | #174 | 1,311 | 0.0739% |
| 1948 | #192 | 1,030 | 0.0587% |
| 1947 | #221 | 830 | 0.0454% |
| 1946 | #270 | 561 | 0.0345% |
| 1945 | #339 | 310 | 0.0230% |
| 1944 | #342 | 306 | 0.0225% |
| 1943 | #339 | 329 | 0.0231% |
| 1942 | #327 | 342 | 0.0248% |
| 1941 | #343 | 286 | 0.0233% |
| 1940 | #380 | 227 | 0.0196% |
| 1939 | #395 | 206 | 0.0186% |
| 1938 | #395 | 207 | 0.0187% |
| 1937 | #376 | 216 | 0.0203% |
| 1936 | #373 | 215 | 0.0207% |
| 1935 | #357 | 237 | 0.0228% |
| 1934 | #437 | 166 | 0.0161% |
| 1933 | #436 | 160 | 0.0161% |
| 1932 | #484 | 140 | 0.0134% |
| 1931 | #444 | 161 | 0.0155% |
| 1930 | #543 | 122 | 0.0111% |
| 1929 | #564 | 110 | 0.0102% |
| 1928 | #589 | 110 | 0.0099% |
| 1927 | #670 | 91 | 0.0081% |
| 1926 | #709 | 81 | 0.0073% |
| 1925 | #731 | 79 | 0.0071% |
| 1924 | #710 | 86 | 0.0076% |
| 1923 | #729 | 80 | 0.0073% |
| 1922 | #703 | 86 | 0.0079% |
| 1921 | #869 | 64 | 0.0058% |
| 1920 | #692 | 86 | 0.0081% |
| 1919 | #919 | 53 | 0.0054% |
| 1918 | #702 | 81 | 0.0080% |
| 1917 | #910 | 49 | 0.0053% |
| 1916 | #715 | 70 | 0.0079% |
| 1915 | #734 | 66 | 0.0078% |
| 1914 | #797 | 44 | 0.0067% |
| 1913 | #713 | 42 | 0.0082% |
| 1912 | #714 | 36 | 0.0084% |
| 1911 | #692 | 21 | 0.0093% |
| 1910 | #731 | 17 | 0.0088% |
| 1909 | #617 | 19 | 0.0116% |
| 1908 | #613 | 18 | 0.0117% |
| 1907 | #704 | 14 | 0.0095% |
| 1906 | #715 | 12 | 0.0090% |
| 1905 | #846 | 9 | 0.0068% |
| 1904 | #588 | 15 | 0.0117% |
| 1903 | #1,025 | 6 | 0.0050% |
| 1902 | #803 | 9 | 0.0073% |
| 1901 | #639 | 11 | 0.0103% |
| 1900 | #651 | 15 | 0.0100% |
| 1899 | #793 | 8 | 0.0075% |
| 1898 | #546 | 15 | 0.0122% |
| 1897 | #499 | 16 | 0.0142% |
| 1896 | #400 | 24 | 0.0201% |
| 1895 | #370 | 26 | 0.0221% |
| 1894 | #739 | 9 | 0.0078% |
| 1893 | #926 | 6 | 0.0053% |
| 1891 | #991 | 5 | 0.0049% |
| 1890 | #671 | 9 | 0.0081% |
| 1887 | #947 | 5 | 0.0049% |
| 1885 | #650 | 9 | 0.0083% |
| 1883 | #687 | 8 | 0.0076% |
| 1882 | #958 | 5 | 0.0044% |
| 1881 | #567 | 10 | 0.0099% |
| 1880 | #931 | 5 | 0.0045% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
