Brady Unisex
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.
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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Brady was first seen in the United States in 1883.
Brady has ranked as high as #147 nationally, which occurred in 2007, and has been most popular in California, Texas, 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.
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. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 97 | |
| CA | 87 | |
| MI | 66 | |
| NY | 54 | |
| OH | 53 | |
| FL | 51 | |
| IL | 50 | |
| NC | 46 | |
| PA | 42 | |
| VA | 33 | |
| IN | 30 | |
| GA | 29 | |
| AZ | 28 | |
| MN | 28 | |
| MO | 25 |
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 | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,098 |
| 2023 | 1,032 |
| 2022 | 1,222 |
| 2021 | 1,278 |
| 2020 | 1,089 |
| 2019 | 1,304 |
| 2018 | 1,383 |
| 2017 | 1,689 |
| 2016 | 1,753 |
| 2015 | 2,032 |
| 2014 | 2,093 |
| 2013 | 2,332 |
| 2012 | 2,860 |
| 2011 | 3,044 |
| 2010 | 3,235 |
| 2009 | 3,741 |
| 2008 | 4,815 |
| 2007 | 4,951 |
| 2006 | 4,086 |
| 2005 | 3,781 |
| 2004 | 3,369 |
| 2003 | 2,865 |
| 2002 | 2,659 |
| 2001 | 2,153 |
| 2000 | 1,884 |
| 1999 | 1,887 |
| 1998 | 2,095 |
| 1997 | 2,162 |
| 1996 | 1,915 |
| 1995 | 1,679 |
| 1994 | 1,848 |
| 1993 | 1,839 |
| 1992 | 1,204 |
| 1991 | 805 |
| 1990 | 797 |
| 1989 | 843 |
| 1988 | 952 |
| 1987 | 877 |
| 1986 | 894 |
| 1985 | 916 |
| 1984 | 699 |
| 1983 | 505 |
| 1982 | 572 |
| 1981 | 559 |
| 1980 | 541 |
| 1979 | 478 |
| 1978 | 443 |
| 1977 | 390 |
| 1976 | 399 |
| 1975 | 466 |
| 1974 | 479 |
| 1973 | 467 |
| 1972 | 453 |
| 1971 | 470 |
| 1970 | 520 |
| 1969 | 266 |
| 1968 | 199 |
| 1967 | 165 |
| 1966 | 152 |
| 1965 | 145 |
| 1964 | 154 |
| 1963 | 174 |
| 1962 | 143 |
| 1961 | 143 |
| 1960 | 134 |
| 1959 | 141 |
| 1958 | 182 |
| 1957 | 159 |
| 1956 | 164 |
| 1955 | 170 |
| 1954 | 151 |
| 1953 | 113 |
| 1952 | 113 |
| 1951 | 93 |
| 1950 | 99 |
| 1949 | 84 |
| 1948 | 86 |
| 1947 | 87 |
| 1946 | 82 |
| 1945 | 65 |
| 1944 | 56 |
| 1943 | 71 |
| 1942 | 58 |
| 1941 | 56 |
| 1940 | 51 |
| 1939 | 65 |
| 1938 | 60 |
| 1937 | 50 |
| 1936 | 53 |
| 1935 | 42 |
| 1934 | 57 |
| 1933 | 55 |
| 1932 | 59 |
| 1931 | 56 |
| 1930 | 67 |
| 1929 | 51 |
| 1928 | 58 |
| 1927 | 82 |
| 1926 | 67 |
| 1925 | 62 |
| 1924 | 85 |
| 1923 | 58 |
| 1922 | 69 |
| 1921 | 60 |
| 1920 | 94 |
| 1919 | 70 |
| 1918 | 59 |
| 1917 | 61 |
| 1916 | 67 |
| 1915 | 58 |
| 1914 | 49 |
| 1913 | 47 |
| 1912 | 30 |
| 1911 | 21 |
| 1910 | 21 |
| 1909 | 21 |
| 1908 | 19 |
| 1907 | 11 |
| 1906 | 14 |
| 1905 | 10 |
| 1904 | 16 |
| 1903 | 16 |
| 1902 | 14 |
| 1901 | 14 |
| 1900 | 11 |
| 1899 | 14 |
| 1898 | 8 |
| 1897 | 10 |
| 1896 | 13 |
| 1895 | 11 |
| 1894 | 5 |
| 1893 | 7 |
| 1892 | 8 |
| 1891 | 7 |
| 1890 | 9 |
| 1889 | 12 |
| 1888 | 9 |
| 1887 | 5 |
| 1886 | 13 |
| 1885 | 7 |
| 1884 | 6 |
| 1883 | 8 |