Braden

At a Glance: Name: Braden – Meaning: salmon (via an Irish ancestral surname) – Origin: Irish (Anglicized surname) – Gender: used for both boys and girls – Pronunciation: BRAY-duhn

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Braden is an Anglicized Irish surname, from Ó Bradáin, that traces back to the word 'bradán' — salmon. You may see Braden glossed elsewhere as meaning 'broad valley,' but that gloss isn't backed by Wiktionary, which points instead to the salmon surname origin.

Meaning & Origin of Braden

Meaning: Salmon (via an Irish ancestral surname).

Origin: Irish (Anglicized surname).

A common claim: Often glossed as 'broad valley' Actually: The 'broad valley' gloss isn't well supported. Braden traces instead to the Irish surname Ó Bradáin, ultimately from bradán, meaning 'salmon.'

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Braden

Phonetic: BRAY-duhn   IPA: /ˈbreɪdən/

Popularity of Braden

Braden peaked at #133 in 2005 with 3,046 babies given the name, and has fallen to #1246 in 2024 with just 158.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1916–2024.

Make Braden Name Art

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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.

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FAQ

What does the name Braden mean?

Salmon (via an Irish ancestral surname). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Braden)

How do you pronounce Braden?

Braden is pronounced BRAY-duhn (IPA: /ˈbreɪdən/).

Is Braden a popular name right now?

Braden peaked at #133 in 2005 and is ranked #1246 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1916–2024.)

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