Brad

♂ Boy

Pronounced BRAD /ˈbræd/High

Meaning: Short form of Bradley/Bradford — Old English brad, 'broad', plus leah, 'clearing', or ford, 'river crossing'High

In 30 seconds: Classic and crisp: Brad shortens Bradley/Bradford — 'broad clearing' or 'broad ford'. All-American, easygoing, and famous (Brad Pitt).

💕 Browse more names

Origin HighEnglish

MeaningShort form of Bradley/Bradford — Old English brad, 'broad', plus leah, 'clearing', or ford, 'river crossing'

U.S. rank (2025)#4267 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births24 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1960

Total births (all-time)≈ 83,066

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Brad is a short form of Bradley or Bradford — from Old English brad, 'broad', plus leah, 'clearing', or ford, 'river crossing'. A friendly, classic nickname-name, it peaked at mid-century.

It registers thinly as a standalone today. Rare on its own, broad-clearing at the root, and easygoing.

Did you know? Brad shortens Bradley ('broad meadow') and Bradford ('broad ford') — both from Old English brad, 'broad'; Brad Pitt made the short form a household name.

Overall data confidence 82%

Behind the Name — Bradley — root etymology

Variations

BradleyBradfordBradd

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

★Brad Pitt (1963-)
American actor and film producer, Academy Award winner known for Fight Club and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
★Brad Paisley (1972-)
American country music singer-songwriter and guitarist with multiple Grammy Awards
★Brad Bird (1957-)
American filmmaker and animator, director of The Incredibles and Ratatouille
★Brad Marchand (1988-)
Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Boston Bruins

If you like Brad…

Bradley— a name it shortens

Bradford— the other name it shortens

Chad— a fellow one-beat classic

Brett— a companion crisp name

Explore names like Brad

By themeenglish nickname-name

By meaningSea / Water

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Brad mean?

Brad shortens Bradley/Bradford, Old English for 'broad clearing' or 'broad ford'.

How do you pronounce Brad?

It's said BRAD /ˈbræd/ — a single syllable.

Is Brad a boy or girl name?

Brad is a boy's name.

How popular is Brad?

Brad is a rare standalone name in the U.S. today.