Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Brad
BoyEnglish, Old English· “short form of Bradley, 'broad clearing'”
- Meaning
- short form of Bradley, 'broad clearing'
- Origin
- English, Old English
- Pronunciation
- BRAD
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #4,267
- US babies 2025
- 24
- Best rank
- #98 (1975)
- Peak year
- 1960
Meaning and origin of Brad
Brad is an English and Old English name that means “short form of Bradley, 'broad clearing'”.
Brad began as a short form of Bradley or Bradford, both English place names. Bradley comes from Old English words for broad and clearing, meaning broad clearing or wide wood, while Bradford means broad ford. Brad became popular as an independent name in the United States in the mid-twentieth century, and it has a confident, all-American sound. It is usually pronounced BRAD. The name is short, strong and easy to say.
Popularity over time
Brad has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 68 different years. Its best national rank was #98 in 1975, and the most babies received it in 1960, when 2,644 were named Brad. In 2025, 24 babies were named Brad, and it ranked #4,267 nationally. That is 73% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,621 in 1920, #320 in 1950, #116 in 1980, #632 in 2000, #1,415 in 2010, and #4,267 in 2025. Of the 83,060 US boys named Brad since records began, 27% were born in the 1970s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 21,351 babies. Since 2010, 969 more have been named Brad.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Karl, Bob, Duane, Stuart, and Dave.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Brad is usually pronounced BRAD, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with B and ends in “-ad”.
Middle names for Brad
A few middle names that flow with Brad: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Brad
Similar names
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Lists that include Brad
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Brad mean?
Brad is an English and Old English name that means “short form of Bradley, 'broad clearing'”.
What is the origin of the name Brad?
Brad has English and Old English roots. Brad began as a short form of Bradley or Bradford, both English place names.
Is Brad a popular name?
Not especially. Brad ranked #4,267 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Brad a boy or girl name?
Brad is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Brad?
Brad is usually pronounced BRAD. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings