Brady Boy

Popularity: #305 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BRAY-dee //ˈbreɪ.di//

Origin: Irish; English

Meaning: Irish: 'spirited'; English: 'descendant of Brádach'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Brady has its roots in the Gaelic language, specifically deriving from the Irish surname "Ó Brádaigh," which means "descendant of Brádach." The name Brádach itself is believed to be derived from the word "brad," meaning "spirited" or "broad." This etymological journey reflects the linguistic evolution from Old Irish to modern English, with the surname transitioning into a given name over time, particularly in the 19th century as surnames began to be adopted as first names in English-speaking cultures. Historically, the name Brady is associated with several notable figures in Irish history, including the 17th-century Irish poet and historian, John Brady.

The name gained further prominence through various cultural representations, including literature and folklore, where it often symbolized strength and resilience. Additionally, the name appears in various forms of media and literature, contributing to its recognition and cultural significance.

In the context of American history, the name Brady is notably linked to the famous Civil War photographer Mathew Brady, who documented the war's impact through his powerful imagery in the 1860s. This association with a pivotal moment in American history has helped to solidify the name's resonance within cultural narratives.

Furthermore, the name has been embraced in various forms, such as the diminutive "Brade," which reflects its adaptability and enduring appeal. Overall, the name Brady carries with it a rich tapestry of linguistic heritage and historical significance, embodying qualities of spirit and resilience that have allowed it to persist through generations.

Famous people named Brady

In this section, you will find notable people named Brady. 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 Brady who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Brady 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.

Brady Quinn is a former American football quarterback best known for playing with the Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, and Kansas City Chiefs.

Brady Hoke is a college football coach best known for his tenure at the University of Michigan and San Diego State University.

Brady Tkachuk is a professional ice hockey player best known for playing with the Ottawa Senators in the NHL.

Fictional characters named Brady

The following list of fictional characters named Brady 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.

Brady is a fictional character from the TV series The Brady Bunch. He is one of the children in the blended Brady family, known for navigating the challenges of growing up in a large household.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Brady, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

AidenCodyDylanEthanFinnGraysonLogan

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Brady. 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.

BrodyBraydenBrendanBraylonBrockBlaineBlakeBrent

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Brady was first seen in the United States in 1883.

Brady has ranked as high as #149 nationally, which occurred in 2007, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

In the past 5 years the name Brady has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Brady 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 Brady 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 Brady.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 1,123 1,071 52
2024 1,144 1,102 42
2023 1,074 1,034 40
2022 1,268 1,223 45
2021 1,343 1,278 65
2020 1,139 1,089 50
2019 1,345 1,304 41
2018 1,435 1,383 52
2017 1,750 1,689 61
2016 1,794 1,753 41
2015 2,068 2,032 36
2014 2,130 2,093 37
2013 2,362 2,332 30
2012 2,902 2,860 42
2011 3,072 3,045 27
2010 3,267 3,236 31
2009 3,790 3,741 49
2008 4,869 4,815 54
2007 5,015 4,951 64
2006 4,150 4,086 64
2005 3,823 3,781 42
2004 3,419 3,369 50
2003 2,907 2,865 42
2002 2,697 2,659 38
2001 2,192 2,153 39
2000 1,919 1,884 35
1999 1,930 1,887 43
1998 2,136 2,095 41
1997 2,204 2,162 42
1996 1,955 1,915 40
1995 1,729 1,679 50
1994 1,888 1,848 40
1993 1,880 1,839 41
1992 1,238 1,204 34
1991 838 805 33
1990 822 797 25
1989 866 843 23
1988 987 952 35
1987 912 877 35
1986 932 894 38
1985 959 915 44
1984 740 699 41
1983 529 505 24
1982 613 572 41
1981 581 559 22
1980 577 541 36
1979 497 479 18
1978 465 443 22
1977 405 390 15
1976 424 399 25
1975 484 466 18
1974 499 479 20
1973 490 467 23
1972 467 453 14
1971 477 470 7
1970 532 520 12
1969 266 266 0
1968 204 199 5
1967 165 165 0
1966 157 152 5
1965 145 145 0
1964 159 154 5
1963 182 174 8
1962 148 143 5
1961 148 143 5
1960 134 134 0
1959 142 142 0
1958 182 182 0
1957 159 159 0
1956 164 164 0
1955 170 170 0
1954 157 151 6
1953 113 113 0
1952 113 113 0
1951 93 93 0
1950 99 99 0
1949 84 84 0
1948 91 86 5
1947 87 87 0
1946 82 82 0
1945 65 65 0
1944 56 56 0
1943 71 71 0
1942 58 58 0
1941 56 56 0
1940 51 51 0
1939 65 65 0
1938 60 60 0
1937 50 50 0
1936 53 53 0
1935 42 42 0
1934 57 57 0
1933 55 55 0
1932 59 59 0
1931 56 56 0
1930 67 67 0
1929 56 51 5
1928 58 58 0
1927 82 82 0
1926 67 67 0
1925 62 62 0
1924 85 85 0
1923 58 58 0
1922 75 69 6
1921 66 60 6
1920 94 94 0
1919 70 70 0
1918 59 59 0
1917 61 61 0
1916 67 67 0
1915 58 58 0
1914 49 49 0
1913 47 47 0
1912 30 30 0
1911 21 21 0
1910 21 21 0
1909 21 21 0
1908 19 19 0
1907 11 11 0
1906 14 14 0
1905 10 10 0
1904 16 16 0
1903 22 16 6
1902 14 14 0
1901 14 14 0
1900 11 11 0
1899 14 14 0
1898 8 8 0
1897 10 10 0
1896 13 13 0
1895 11 11 0
1894 5 5 0
1893 7 7 0
1892 8 8 0
1891 7 7 0
1890 9 9 0
1889 12 12 0
1888 9 9 0
1887 5 5 0
1886 13 13 0
1885 7 7 0
1884 6 6 0
1883 8 8 0

Top States for Brady (2024)

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 97
9%
CA 87
8%
MI 66
6%
NY 54
5%
OH 53
5%
FL 51
5%
IL 50
5%
NC 46
4%
PA 42
4%
VA 33
3%
IN 30
3%
GA 29
3%
AZ 28
3%
MN 28
3%
MO 25
2%
NJ 24
2%
CO 23
2%
WI 21
2%
LA 21
2%
KY 20
2%
TN 20
2%
MA 20
2%
UT 19
2%
OK 18
2%
WA 17
2%
SC 16
1%
AR 15
1%
MD 14
1%
CT 13
1%
WV 12
1%
NE 12
1%
IA 12
1%
MS 11
1%
AL 9
1%
OR 8
1%
KS 8
1%
ID 6
1%
NH 5
0%
ME 5
0%