This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance: Name: Bracken – Meaning: fern (one of several surname origins) – Origin: Surname (multiple unrelated origins) – Gender: primarily used for boys
Bracken is a surname-turned-first-name with several unrelated origins, one of which means "fern." It's a name with a rugged, outdoorsy feel that sits well outside the top of the charts.
Meaning & Origin of Bracken
Meaning: Fern (one of several surname origins).
Origin: Surname (multiple unrelated origins).
Source: Wiktionary.
Popularity of Bracken
Bracken peaked in 1998, when it ranked #2657 with 31 babies given the name. By 2023 it had slipped to #12497, with 5 babies, so a child named Bracken today would rarely meet another.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1971–2023.
Make Bracken Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Bracken, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Bracken mean?
Fern (one of several surname origins). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Bracken)
Is Bracken a popular name right now?
Bracken peaked at #2657 in 1998 and is ranked #12497 as of 2023. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1971–2023.)
📊 How popular is Bracken? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
🎨 Get Printable Name Art for Bracken
Beautiful nursery-ready 8×10" print with name & meaning
Preview & Download →More Baby Name Inspiration
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →
