Brad Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Brad is an Old English name that means 'broad' or 'wide'. It evolved from 'brad' in Old English to its current form. The name has no biblical relevance and gained popularity in the 20th century. It is perceived as friendly and approachable, with notable figures including Brad Pitt and Bradley Cooper.
The name Brad is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Brad has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Brad' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4628th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1285th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 182nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 134th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 266th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 836th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2563rd out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 8600th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 5355th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 13360th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Brad' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Brad"
Pronunciation
/bræd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Brad is derived from the Old English word 'brad', meaning 'broad' or 'wide'. It was originally used as a surname before becoming popular as a given name.
Meaning
broad, wide
Language Evolution
Old English: brad, Middle English: brade, Early Modern English: Brad
Historical Usage
The name Brad gained popularity in the 20th century, especially in the United States, becoming widely used as a standalone given name.
Variants & Derivatives
Bradley, Braden, Brady
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Brad is often associated with a laid-back, friendly persona, reflecting its use in popular culture, especially among younger generations.
Famous People
Brad Pitt, Bradley Cooper, Brad Paisley
Explore More Brad Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Brad"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Brad"
"Brad" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 4628th of 7545 | 41 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1285th of 6773 | 521 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 182nd of 7552 | 29,209 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 134th of 10718 | 34,562 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 266th of 16616 | 14,551 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 836th of 24088 | 3,535 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2563rd of 23106 | 612 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 8600th of 12526 | 26 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 5355th of 19264 | 154 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 13360th of 27321 | 53 |
Regional Popularity of "Brad" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
65.59% 1014th/1546 |
62.85% 978th/1556 |
81.73% 1923rd/2353 |
39.75% 615th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
5.70% 127th/2227 |
9.34% 227th/2430 |
11.04% 315th/2853 |
4.43% 123rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
3.27% 96th/2937 |
4.08% 142nd/3483 |
4.26% 150th/3518 |
4.08% 165th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
5.89% 217th/3685 |
4.74% 212th/4475 |
5.56% 289th/5194 |
5.86% 370th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
20.32% 931st/4582 |
13.23% 683rd/5164 |
11.32% 828th/7313 |
13.55% 1011th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
52.98% 2377th/4487 |
34.87% 2379th/6822 |
42.94% 2695th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Brad" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Brad"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Brad" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.