Brad Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: brad //bræd//
Origin: English; Old English
Meaning: Broad; wide
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Brad is derived from the Old English word "brad," which means "broad" or "wide." This term is rooted in the Proto-Germanic *bradaz, which also conveys the sense of breadth. The name likely evolved as a short form of names such as Bradford or Bradley, which incorporate the Old English "ford" (a river crossing) or "leah" (a clearing), respectively, indicating geographical features.
The transition into English occurred during the early medieval period, as Old English evolved into Middle English, with the name becoming more recognizable in its modern form by the 19th century. Historically, the name Brad does not have significant biblical or royal associations, but it has been used in various literary contexts.
The name gained some prominence in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a given name. While it does not have a specific saint or major historical figure associated with it, its usage in literature and popular culture has contributed to its recognition.
The name's simplicity and strong phonetic quality have made it appealing in various contexts. Culturally, Brad has been associated with traits such as strength and reliability, reflecting its etymological roots in the concept of breadth.
The name has also been used in various diminutive forms, such as "Brady," which has its own distinct etymological background but shares a similar phonetic quality. Overall, Brad's endurance as a name can be attributed to its straightforwardness and the positive connotations associated with its meaning.
Famous people named Brad
In this section, you will find notable people named Brad. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Brad who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Brad who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Brad Pitt is an actor and producer best known for Fight Club, Se7en, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Brad Bird is a director and producer best known for The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and The Iron Giant.
Brad Paisley is a country music singer and songwriter best known for Mud on the Tires, Whiskey Lullaby, and Remind Me.
Brad Garrett is an actor and comedian best known for Everybody Loves Raymond, Finding Nemo, and The Incredible Hulk.
Fictional characters named Brad
The following list of fictional characters named Brad is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Brad Majors is a fictional character from the musical and film The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He is a wholesome and naive young man who becomes embroiled in a bizarre adventure after seeking help from Dr. Frank-N-Furter.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Brad, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Brad. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Brad was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Brad has ranked as high as #295 nationally, which occurred in 1960, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
In the past 5 years the name Brad has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Brad is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Brad was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Brad.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| 2024 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 2023 | 28 | 28 | 0 |
| 2022 | 32 | 32 | 0 |
| 2021 | 36 | 36 | 0 |
| 2020 | 41 | 41 | 0 |
| 2019 | 40 | 40 | 0 |
| 2018 | 54 | 54 | 0 |
| 2017 | 55 | 55 | 0 |
| 2016 | 50 | 50 | 0 |
| 2015 | 88 | 88 | 0 |
| 2014 | 76 | 76 | 0 |
| 2013 | 86 | 86 | 0 |
| 2012 | 99 | 99 | 0 |
| 2011 | 117 | 117 | 0 |
| 2010 | 117 | 117 | 0 |
| 2009 | 145 | 145 | 0 |
| 2008 | 166 | 166 | 0 |
| 2007 | 206 | 206 | 0 |
| 2006 | 214 | 214 | 0 |
| 2005 | 228 | 228 | 0 |
| 2004 | 212 | 212 | 0 |
| 2003 | 215 | 215 | 0 |
| 2002 | 231 | 231 | 0 |
| 2001 | 263 | 263 | 0 |
| 2000 | 289 | 289 | 0 |
| 1999 | 307 | 307 | 0 |
| 1998 | 338 | 338 | 0 |
| 1997 | 388 | 388 | 0 |
| 1996 | 419 | 419 | 0 |
| 1995 | 398 | 398 | 0 |
| 1994 | 383 | 383 | 0 |
| 1993 | 456 | 456 | 0 |
| 1992 | 471 | 471 | 0 |
| 1991 | 566 | 566 | 0 |
| 1990 | 649 | 649 | 0 |
| 1989 | 750 | 750 | 0 |
| 1988 | 834 | 834 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1,036 | 1,026 | 10 |
| 1986 | 1,107 | 1,102 | 5 |
| 1985 | 1,150 | 1,143 | 7 |
| 1984 | 1,243 | 1,237 | 6 |
| 1983 | 1,476 | 1,471 | 5 |
| 1982 | 1,698 | 1,687 | 11 |
| 1981 | 1,967 | 1,958 | 9 |
| 1980 | 2,382 | 2,371 | 11 |
| 1979 | 2,350 | 2,334 | 16 |
| 1978 | 2,121 | 2,106 | 15 |
| 1977 | 2,535 | 2,524 | 11 |
| 1976 | 2,454 | 2,438 | 16 |
| 1975 | 2,616 | 2,608 | 8 |
| 1974 | 2,496 | 2,483 | 13 |
| 1973 | 1,893 | 1,885 | 8 |
| 1972 | 1,757 | 1,748 | 9 |
| 1971 | 2,175 | 2,164 | 11 |
| 1970 | 2,340 | 2,327 | 13 |
| 1969 | 2,117 | 2,106 | 11 |
| 1968 | 1,715 | 1,709 | 6 |
| 1967 | 1,777 | 1,771 | 6 |
| 1966 | 1,896 | 1,896 | 0 |
| 1965 | 2,091 | 2,091 | 0 |
| 1964 | 2,285 | 2,278 | 7 |
| 1963 | 2,273 | 2,273 | 0 |
| 1962 | 2,082 | 2,082 | 0 |
| 1961 | 2,508 | 2,501 | 7 |
| 1960 | 2,651 | 2,644 | 7 |
| 1959 | 2,347 | 2,347 | 0 |
| 1958 | 2,255 | 2,255 | 0 |
| 1957 | 2,191 | 2,191 | 0 |
| 1956 | 2,254 | 2,254 | 0 |
| 1955 | 1,882 | 1,877 | 5 |
| 1954 | 1,846 | 1,846 | 0 |
| 1953 | 1,650 | 1,650 | 0 |
| 1952 | 966 | 966 | 0 |
| 1951 | 615 | 615 | 0 |
| 1950 | 460 | 460 | 0 |
| 1949 | 307 | 307 | 0 |
| 1948 | 266 | 266 | 0 |
| 1947 | 230 | 230 | 0 |
| 1946 | 163 | 163 | 0 |
| 1945 | 73 | 73 | 0 |
| 1944 | 67 | 67 | 0 |
| 1943 | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| 1942 | 60 | 60 | 0 |
| 1941 | 36 | 36 | 0 |
| 1940 | 31 | 31 | 0 |
| 1939 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| 1938 | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| 1937 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| 1936 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| 1935 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1934 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| 1933 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1932 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1931 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1930 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1929 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1928 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1926 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1925 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1920 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1918 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1917 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1914 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1887 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1880 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Brad (2023)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 5 |