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Bradan
How to Pronounce Bradan
Pronounced BRAY-duhn /ˈbreɪ.dən/High
Meaning: Bradan is a spelling of Braden/Brayden, from the Irish surname Ó Bradáin, 'descendant of Bradán'. Fittingly, bradán is the Irish word for 'salmon' — a fish rich in Celtic lore as a symbol of wisdom. So Bradan carries a genuine Gaelic root beneath the trendy 2000s -aden sound.Low
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
Bradan is a spelling of Braden, from Irish Ó Bradáin, 'descendant of Bradán'. The word bradán means 'salmon', an animal prized in Irish myth for its wisdom — the legendary Salmon of Knowledge. That gives Bradan a real Gaelic meaning under its very of-the-moment sound.
It stayed rare while Braden and Brayden soared, drawing a small annual handful from the late 1980s into the 2010s. A Bradan is likely a millennial or younger; the name reads as part of the -aden vogue, with a genuine 'salmon of wisdom' story to tell.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Bradan mean?
Bradan is a form of Braden, from an Irish surname; the Irish word bradán means 'salmon'.
How do you pronounce Bradan?
It's said BRAY-duhn /ˈbreɪ.dən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Bradan a boy or girl name?
Bradan is used as a boy's name.
How popular is Bradan?
Bradan was always rare, a variant of Braden that peaked in the mid-two-thousands.