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Home › Baby Names Directory › Bracken

Bracken

♂ Boy

Pronounced BRAK-en /ˈbræk.ən/Medium

Meaning: From the English word bracken, a hardy fern of moor and woodland (Old Norse root), also carried as a surname. A rugged nature name.Low

In 30 seconds: A rugged nature name: Bracken is a hardy fern (said 'BRAK-en'). Earthy and modern.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningFrom the English word bracken, a hardy fern of moor and woodland (Old Norse root), also carried as a surname. A rugged nature name.
U.S. rank (2023)#12497 ↗ Rising
2023 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1998
Total births (all-time)≈ 610

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199819712023

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Bracken comes from the word for a tough woodland fern (from an Old Norse root), and doubles as a surname. An earthy, rugged nature name — rare in the U.S. (said 'BRAK-en').

In the U.S. it appears rarely as a given name. Rare, earthy, and rugged.

Did you know? Bracken is the English word for a hardy moorland fern — also an English/Irish surname — a rugged, earthy nature name with an outdoorsy feel (said 'BRAK-en').
Overall data confidence 48%
References — Bracken — English 'bracken' (fern); also a surname

Variations

BrackinBrackynBraken

Nicknames

BrackKen

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Bracken…

Aspen— a like nature name
Hollis— a like woodland word-name
Forrest— a like earthy boy's name
Aven— echoes that soft -en sound
Braden— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Bracken

By themeenglishword-namenaturerugged
By meaningEarth / Nature

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Bracken mean?

Bracken is the English word for a hardy moorland fern, also carried as an English/Irish surname.

How do you pronounce Bracken?

It's said BRAK-en /ˈbræk.ən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Bracken a boy or girl name?

Bracken is a boy's name.

How popular is Bracken?

Bracken is a rare name in the U.S.

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