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Brad as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Brad

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The baby name Brad is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /bræd/ (BRAD).

Brad is English in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 1.0
Origin: English
Pronunciation: /bræd/ (BRAD)

What is the meaning of the name Brad ?

The baby name Brad is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /bræd/ (BRAD).

Brad is English in Origin.

Brad is an English given name that began as a clipped form of the surnames Bradley and Bradford. Those surnames come from Old English elements: brād “broad” with lēah “wood/clearing” and with ford “river crossing,” respectively. As a standalone first name, Brad retains the sense of breadth - evoking a wide meadow or a broad ford - and appears in records by the late 19th century.

It shifted from surname style to mainstream in the mid-20th century, peaking in North America from the 1960s through the 1980s and gaining steady use in the UK, Canada, and Australia. Contemporary bearers in film, television, and sports helped cement its brisk, modern feel. Variant forms and related names include Bradley, Bradford, Bradly, Bradlee, and the rarer Bradd; feminine or unisex spellings Bradie and Bradi occur in current use. The core meaning remains “broad” or “wide,” pointing to either a clearing in the woods or a river crossing.

Brad has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Brad

Brad Dourif Actor · Born 1950 · United States Brad Dourif is an American actor best known for his role as the voice of Chucky in the Child's Play film series. He also earned acclaim for his performance in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and appeared in The Lord of the Rings trilogy as Gríma Wormtongue. Brad Delson Musician · Born 1977 · United States Brad Delson is a musician from the United States, best known as the lead guitarist for the band Linkin Park. He played a key role in the band's success with albums like 'Hybrid Theory' and 'Meteora', featuring hit songs such as 'In the End' and 'Numb'. Brad Renfro Actor|musician · Born 1982 · United States Brad Renfro was an American actor best known for his role in the film 'The Client'. He also starred in 'Apt Pupil' and 'Bully', showcasing his talent in a variety of challenging roles. Renfro's career began at a young age, and he quickly became a notable figure in the film industry during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Brad Bird Actor · Born 1957 · United States Brad Bird is an American filmmaker best known for directing animated films like 'The Incredibles' and 'Ratatouille'. He has also worked on 'The Iron Giant', which has become a beloved classic. Bird's work often combines humor with heartfelt storytelling. Brad Garrett Actor · Born 1960 · United States Brad Garrett is an American actor best known for his role as Robert Barone on the television series Everybody Loves Raymond. He has also lent his voice to animated films like Finding Nemo and Ratatouille. Garrett's deep voice and comedic timing have made him a standout in both live-action and animated roles. Brad Dexter Actor · Born 1917 · United States Brad Dexter was an American actor best known for his role as Harry Luck in the classic Western film 'The Magnificent Seven'. He also appeared in 'Run Silent, Run Deep' and 'The Asphalt Jungle'.

Brad – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2007 #1 — 689
FJ Boys 0 #17 1 603
DJ Boys 0 #36 1 657
CM 0 #56 1 2,592
CY 0 #60 1 1,632
LU 0 #66 1 2,830
JP 0 #73 5 4,057
AO 0 #77 1 2,729
MV Boys 0 #78 2 3,375
CN 0 #84 3 3,857
JM 0 #93 1 3,714
TW 0 #101 3 4,523
QA 0 #104 3 7,011
PH 0 #107 4 5,607
HU 0 #115 1 1,675
KW 0 #119 3 5,216
OM 0 #120 2 6,215
CY Girls 0 #125 1 3,755
IQ 0 #130 4 3,533
CY Boys 0 #131 1 3,473
ID Boys 0 #132 4 4,130
PA 0 #138 1 3,797
BN Boys 0 #139 1 6,332
JO 0 #139 2 2,158
CR 0 #141 18 5,526
BW Boys 0 #148 7 4,685
AE 0 #165 13 10,220
HU Boys 0 #173 2 3,954
MT Boys 0 #173 7 4,064
PR Boys 0 #176 3 2,508
RU 0 #190 5 3,641
TW Boys 0 #195 47 7,111
LU Boys 0 #218 3 4,970
BG Boys 0 #220 1 3,850
PS 0 #225 2 5,692
MO Boys 0 #227 8 5,842
EC Boys 0 #230 10 3,322
BD 0 #240 2 5,992
JM Boys 0 #242 31 6,876
AO Boys 0 #246 4 5,568
NA Boys 0 #248 6 6,830
HR Boys 0 #257 3 3,997
SG 0 #257 13 11,010
MO Girls 0 #263 1 7,056
GR Boys 0 #270 4 6,912
NG 0 #270 3 5,926
CN Boys 0 #278 42 9,639
JP Boys 0 #279 19 7,909
IL 0 #282 1 6,291
SA 0 #285 11 10,560
KZ Boys 0 #295 2 6,578
AL Boys 0 #300 4 5,122
CZ Boys 0 #302 4 6,530
Canada Boys 2023 #304 6 2,601
MU Boys 0 #306 52 8,477
CR Boys 0 #316 192 10,188
PE 0 #326 4 6,350
DK Boys 0 #331 2 7,401
HK 0 #333 16 8,483
PL Boys 0 #334 7 6,459
GT 0 #335 4 5,948
ZA 0 #343 105 14,421
MY 0 #346 9 12,352
PH Boys 0 #352 32 11,440
GH Boys 0 #357 5 8,138
PT Boys 0 #378 4 7,951
France Boys 2021 #383 5 2,865
JO Boys 0 #384 6 7,057
BO 0 #406 3 6,868
EG 0 #410 3 6,387
UY Boys 0 #410 4 5,922
OM Girls 0 #424 1 15,987
PH Girls 0 #428 2 13,098
MX 0 #444 2 8,339
GT Boys 0 #459 16 7,625
PA Boys 0 #460 22 9,305
SD Boys 0 #463 4 10,523
HK Boys 0 #473 55 12,905
CM Boys 0 #475 76 12,054
AR Boys 0 #478 6 7,628
RU Boys 0 #492 14 12,621
CO 0 #507 4 7,768
PS Boys 0 #519 30 10,655
RU Girls 0 #523 1 11,913
IQ Girls 0 #524 2 11,303
LY 0 #525 11 12,703
IR Boys 0 #540 13 10,162
BH 0 #543 11 17,937
CM Girls 0 #554 7 11,671
KW Girls 0 #559 3 19,177
BO Boys 0 #564 29 9,244
ZA Boys 0 #586 784 25,619
IL Boys 0 #593 15 10,983
AE Girls 0 #596 2 20,968
BD Boys 0 #598 8 10,045
CL Boys 0 #606 60 13,390
IQ Boys 0 #627 41 13,071
SG Girls 0 #631 2 18,916
SG Boys 0 #634 64 17,960
HK Girls 0 #650 1 16,104
BO Girls 0 #651 1 9,488
QA Boys 0 #682 26 18,093
LB 0 #688 3 13,263
PE Boys 0 #691 189 14,506
IT 0 #698 17 4,183
SY 0 #717 12 11,684
BR Boys 0 #722 30 12,213
KW Boys 0 #747 23 18,755
TN 0 #801 29 13,765
NG Girls 0 #823 4 15,093
CO Boys 0 #843 78 15,656
NL Boys 0 #848 104 5,873
EG Boys 0 #862 25 15,035
OM Boys 0 #865 17 17,948
United States Boys 2024 #867 26 7,044
Spain Boys 0 #875 56 5,610
NG Boys 0 #900 52 16,906
Germany Boys 0 #906 47 5,697
MX Boys 0 #912 71 16,355
MA 0 #986 143 20,986
BR Girls 0 #992 1 12,708
IN Boys 0 #992 10 16,750
EG Girls 0 #1,005 5 14,742
PE Girls 0 #1,006 5 14,861
MY Boys 0 #1,007 105 25,439
SA Girls 0 #1,012 3 25,931
AE Boys 0 #1,021 72 22,615
MY Girls 0 #1,070 3 24,821
DZ 0 #1,075 102 20,130
ZA Girls 0 #1,131 11 25,928
CO Girls 0 #1,150 3 16,140
TR 0 #1,185 27 19,440
MX Girls 0 #1,266 2 17,781
IT Boys 0 #1,303 169 10,046
IT Girls 0 #1,431 16 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,505 110 28,008

Brad is popular in 78 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Canada
United States
Scotland, United Kingdom
Ireland

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Brad

Brad is predominantly a boy's name.
Brad is a one syllable name, pronounced /bræd/ (BRAD).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Bradley, Bradford, Bradly, Bradden and Bradyn.
Yes, very popular — Brad ranked #1 in Ireland in 2007, and appears in official birth registries across 5 countries.
Brad ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2007).
Brad's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #403 in 2011 to #383 in 2021 in France.
Yes — 8 notable people named Brad are in our database, including Brad Dourif (Actor), Brad Delson (Musician), Brad Renfro (Actor|musician).