Bradley Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Bradley is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Bradley?
Bradley is spelled B-R-A-D-L-E-Y. The name has 7 letters.
Bradley at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Bradley means “broad meadow” or “broad clearing.”
- Origin
- Bradley is commonly associated with English place names that describe a wide clearing or meadow area.
- Pronunciation
- BRAD-lee · 2 syllables
Bradley Popularity in 2025
Rank#3,975
Recorded Births36
Rank#403
Recorded Births794
- Girls usage fell 894 places to #3,975 and recorded 16 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 41 places to #403 and recorded 116 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Bradley Mean?
Bradley means “broad meadow” or “broad clearing.”
Origin: Bradley is commonly associated with English place names that describe a wide clearing or meadow area.
How Do You Pronounce Bradley?
PronunciationBRAD-lee
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Bradley?
- History
- The name Bradley may derive from Old English elements and has been used as both a surname and a given name.
Bradley Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 36 | #3,975 |
| 2025 | Boys | 794 | #403 |
| 2024 | Girls | 52 | #3,081 |
| 2024 | Boys | 910 | #362 |
| 2023 | Girls | 49 | #3,274 |
| 2023 | Boys | 908 | #359 |
| 2022 | Girls | 62 | #2,756 |
| 2022 | Boys | 952 | #345 |
| 2021 | Girls | 58 | #2,892 |
| 2021 | Boys | 1,074 | #313 |
| 2020 | Girls | 46 | #3,338 |
| 2020 | Boys | 1,237 | #273 |
| 2019 | Girls | 53 | #3,043 |
| 2019 | Boys | 1,443 | #253 |
| 2018 | Girls | 48 | #3,293 |
| 2018 | Boys | 1,496 | #247 |
| 2017 | Girls | 49 | #3,247 |
| 2017 | Boys | 1,649 | #230 |
| 2016 | Girls | 58 | #2,902 |
| 2016 | Boys | 2,054 | #197 |
| 2015 | Girls | 51 | #3,211 |
| 2015 | Boys | 2,402 | #173 |
| 2014 | Girls | 43 | #3,585 |
| 2014 | Boys | 2,330 | #183 |
When Was Bradley Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1980 · Boys
7,210 recorded births
National rank #51
1986 · Boys
7,044 recorded births
National rank #54
1988 · Boys
7,017 recorded births
National rank #57
1985 · Boys
7,011 recorded births
National rank #53
Where Bradley Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| ME | #172 | 7 |
| TN | #259 | 34 |
| NJ | #279 | 32 |
| VA | #296 | 28 |
| FL | #300 | 64 |
| MA | #307 | 18 |
| OK | #328 | 14 |
| WV | #330 | 5 |