Baby Name Popularity Profile

Bradley

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Bradley.

✦ Broad meadow 🌍 English nature traditional
National Rank (2025) #403
All-Time Peak Rank #47 Achieved 1970
Total U.S. Births 313,008 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 98.0% Boy / 2.0% Girl Overwhelmingly Male
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1980s 7,210 births in 1980
💡 The Bradley Vibe: Considered a Declining Classic. A previously dominant name currently experiencing a prolonged generational cooling period.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Broad meadow
Language Origin English
Origin Type single
Derived from Old English elements 'brad' (broad) and 'leah' (wood, clearing, meadow).
Common Nicknames
Brad
Alternative Spellings
Bradlee
Pronunciation: BRAD-lee
Themes & Categories
nature traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Bradley

According to SSA data, Bradley achieved its highest historical rank of #47 in 1970. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1980 with 7,210 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 66.9%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 133 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Bradley across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -66.9% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 7,210 births in 1980
Years in Top 100 38 yrs
Years in Top 500 98 yrs
Registry Streak 133 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 42
1890s: 118
1900s: 128
1910s: 479
1920s: 873
1930s: 1,830
1940s: 5,532
1950s: 29,507
1960s: 48,730
1970s: 58,678
1980s: 69,352
1990s: 48,086
2000s: 23,618
2010s: 20,160
2020s: 5,875

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Bra-dley
Letter Count 7 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 54.1% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 54.1% of SSA names. Starts with B, a letter used by only 3.6% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Bradley.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Minnesota
Top States Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Indiana
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Minnesota #423 11,705 1959 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota Unranked 2,158 1961 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota Unranked 2,022 1964 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #454 7,667 1970 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #380 12,578 1970 47.2% Decline
Nebraska Unranked 3,852 1960 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #413 9,996 1970 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont Unranked 860 1989 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #355 5,270 1960 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #334 1,969 1979 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #381 3,888 1979 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 635 1982 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon Unranked 4,168 1981 Insufficient historical volume
Montana Unranked 1,384 1978 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #462 16,410 1987 33.3% Decline
Missouri #461 9,619 1980 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #351 7,231 1983 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #412 19,015 1987 36.6% Decline
Alaska Unranked 571 1985 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #406 6,597 1960 28.0% Decline
Illinois #517 19,292 1970 50.0% Decline
Oklahoma #329 4,967 1985 50.0% Decline
Colorado #504 4,166 1985 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire Unranked 1,076 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #367 1,133 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #259 7,246 1989 +30.8% Growth
Arkansas #449 3,549 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #301 10,731 1990 22.0% Decline
Hawaii Unranked 953 1969 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #344 4,611 1995 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia #335 2,818 1981 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #461 8,484 1988 32.4% Decline
Maine #176 1,278 1988 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #335 5,319 1979 38.5% Decline
Arizona #534 3,443 1986 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #416 14,727 1980 49.0% Decline
Virginia #296 6,053 1988 33.3% Decline
Louisiana #457 4,691 1980 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #387 3,666 1989 48.0% Decline
Georgia #358 7,041 1989 37.7% Decline
California #485 24,158 1987 51.8% Decline
Mississippi #336 2,927 1978 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #441 17,550 1982 25.5% Decline
Delaware Unranked 460 1991 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico Unranked 1,065 1985 Insufficient historical volume
New York #399 12,411 1987 40.3% Decline
District of Columbia Unranked 679 1953 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #363 1,399 1996 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #308 3,070 1997 43.8% Decline
New Jersey #281 3,360 2015 +6.7% Growth
Rhode Island Unranked 379 1971 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Travis Mario Matthew Derrick Terrell Antoine Clinton Stephan Darnell Donnell
👧 Sister Suggestions
Nicole Lauren Holly Nina Rebecca Mallory Vanessa Joanna Veronica Alicia

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