Holding steady.
Popularity of Broadus since 1900
Babies named Broadus per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1924, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Broadus's real moment was 1903.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 11 |
| 1910s | 168 |
| 1920s | 227 |
| 1930s | 154 |
| 1940s | 131 |
| 1950s | 114 |
| 1960s | 44 |
| 1970s | 22 |
| 1980s | 29 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Broadus is a rare given name in the United States, first recorded in 1900 and appearing in birth data through the early 20th century. Its peak year was 1903, when it saw a brief uptick in usage, likely tied to the fashion for turning surnames into first names. Since then, the name has remained extremely uncommon, with no recent resurgence; it did not rank in the top 1000 for any year in modern records (latest year: 2025). The trajectory is stable, essentially dormant outside of isolated revival interest. The name carries a distinctly American flavor of the early 1900s, when parents occasionally adapted family names for their children. Broadus never saw a rank in any official list and was never recorded in any state's top names, suggesting it remained a choice among a few families rather than a widespread trend.
Broadus is thought to be an Anglicized form of an Irish or Scottish surname, possibly derived from 'Brodie' (from Gaelic 'brod' meaning 'ditch' or 'muddy place') or 'Broderick' (from Old English 'brōde' + 'rīc' meaning 'broad ridge' or 'son of the broad king'). As a given name, it emerged in the late 19th century in the United States, likely as a transfer of the family name.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Brodie, Bro
Variants: Brodus, Broadis
Sibling names for Broadus
Names that share Broadus's style, for a brother or sister.
