Bradford
Meaningfrom the broad ford · English
- US rank
- #3,513
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #240 in 1953
32 babies were named Bradford in the US in 2025. It has dropped 967 places in five years.
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US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Bradford you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 53,476 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Bradford, 32 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Bradford would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryBradford has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Bradfords, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1953, when it ranked #240. Today it's #3,513, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowBradford was 3.3× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 15,974 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 53,476.
- TrendBradford has slipped 967 places over the last five years and now sits at #3,513. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningIn English, Bradford means “from the broad ford”.
About the name Bradford
Bradford is a boy name of English origin meaning “from the broad ford”. It has 8 letters and 2 syllables, starting with B and ending in “-ord”. US birth records list Bradford for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 136 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1953, when it ranked #240 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #3,513, with 32 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 18 | 56,085 boys |
| 1890s | 51 | 19,436 boys |
| 1900s | 61 | 16,287 boys |
| 1910s | 77 | 13,011 boys |
| 1920s | 74 | 13,479 boys |
| 1930s | 94 | 10,609 boys |
| 1940s | 156 | 6,415 boys |
| 1950s | 331 | 3,018 boys |
| 1960s | 302 | 3,314 boys |
| 1970s | 346 | 2,888 boys |
| 1980s | 259 | 3,866 boys |
| 1990s | 117 | 8,535 boys |
| 2000s | 49 | 20,400 boys |
| 2010s | 37 | 27,330 boys |
| 2020s | 25 | 39,267 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Bradford
What does the name Bradford mean?
Bradford means “from the broad ford” in English.
What is the origin of the name Bradford?
Bradford has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Bradford a boy or girl name?
Bradford is a boy name.
How popular is the name Bradford?
Bradford ranked #3,513 for US boys in 2025, given to 32 babies. Its best year was 1953 (#240).