Bradley

At a Glance: Name: Bradley – Meaning: broad meadow or woodland clearing – Origin: Old English (place name transferred to surname) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: BRAD-lee

---

Bradley started out as an Old English place name — a broad meadow or woodland clearing — before it settled into use as a surname and later a first name. Pronounced BRAD-lee, it carries the plain, grounded feel of a name with a literal, land-based origin rather than an invented or symbolic one. It's a timeless, classic choice, the kind of name that reads as classic rather than tied to a particular moment.

Meaning & Origin of Bradley

Meaning: Broad meadow or woodland clearing.

Origin: Old English (place name transferred to surname).

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Bradley

Phonetic: BRAD-lee   IPA: /ˈbrædli/

Popularity of Bradley

Bradley peaked in 1970, when 6,819 boys were given the name and it ranked #47 nationally. By 2024 it had dropped to #364, with 906 boys given the name that year — still in use, just well off its high point.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Bradley Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Bradley, 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.

• Beckham
• Brock
• Clayton
• Mason
• Nash
• Wes

FAQ

What does the name Bradley mean?

Broad meadow or woodland clearing. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Bradley)

How do you pronounce Bradley?

Bradley is pronounced BRAD-lee (IPA: /ˈbrædli/).

Is Bradley a popular name right now?

Bradley peaked at #47 in 1970 and is ranked #364 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

More Baby Name Inspiration

• Check any name’s popularity history
• Take the naming-style quiz
• Make art for a different name