Declining since 1985, #4,249 for boys today.
Popularity of Brad since 1880
Babies named Brad per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1960, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Brad's real moment was 1975.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 11 |
| 1890s | 0 |
| 1900s | 0 |
| 1910s | 16 |
| 1920s | 36 |
| 1930s | 178 |
| 1940s | 1,298 |
| 1950s | 16,461 |
| 1960s | 21,351 |
| 1970s | 22,617 |
| 1980s | 13,579 |
| 1990s | 4,375 |
| 2000s | 2,169 |
| 2010s | 782 |
| 2020s | 187 |
Meaning & origin
Brad is a short form of Bradley or Bradford, surnames of Old English origin meaning 'broad meadow' and 'broad ford'. It surged in popularity in the mid-20th century, especially in the United States, where it peaked at rank 4249 in 1975, when roughly 1 in 71,170 boys received the name. After 1985, its use began a steady decline, reflecting a broader trend away from clipped nickname-as-given-names. Despite falling popularity, Brad remains familiar through cultural touchstones from its 1970s heyday.
Brad is a common short form of English surnames Bradley and Bradford, both place names. Bradley derives from Old English 'brad' (broad) and 'leah' (clearing, meadow), meaning 'broad meadow'. Bradford comes from 'brad' and 'ford' (ford), meaning 'broad ford'. As an independent given name, Brad rose to popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly in the United States. It peaked in rank 4249 in 1975, when approximately 1 in 71,170 boys received the name, and has since declined.
Where Brad is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Brad” around the world
Where Brad lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: B
Sibling names for Brad
Names that share Brad's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Brad
Names whose popularity has moved with Brad's over the last 50 years.
