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Home › Baby Names Directory › Braden

Braden

♂ Boy

Pronounced BRAY-den /ˈbreɪ.dən/Low

Meaning: Broad valley; salmonLow

In 30 seconds: Braden is an English and Irish name meaning broad valley or from Bradán meaning salmon. A popular American masculine name particularly from the 1990s onward, it has a clean two-syllable sound.
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Origin LowIrish, English
MeaningBroad valley; salmon
U.S. rank (2025)#1152 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births183 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2005
Total births (all-time)≈ 46,233

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200519162025

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

Braden derives from the Old English brad (broad) and denu (valley), or from the Irish surname Bradán meaning salmon. As a given name it became popular in the United States in the late 20th century.

Braden was a top 100 boy name in the United States from the late 1990s through the 2010s, part of the Brady/Braden/Aiden naming wave that dominated American naming for a generation.

Did you know? In Celtic tradition, the salmon was considered the wisest of creatures — the Salmon of Knowledge swam in the Well of Wisdom and whoever ate it would gain all the world's wisdom. Braden's salmon meaning thus connects it to a powerful symbol of intelligence.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name: Braden

Variations

BraydenBraedenBradynBrady

Nicknames

BradBray

Famous Bearers

  • ★Braden Holtby (1989-present)
    Canadian NHL goaltender who won the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals and the Vezina Trophy

If you like Braden…

Brayden— Most common alternate spelling
Jayden— Same -aden rhyming name of same wave
Aiden— Same -den ending dominant name of same era
Hayden— Same -den ending and same generation

Explore names like Braden

By themeenglishsurname-nametwo-syllableirishpopularvalley
By meaningEarth / Nature

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Frequently Asked

What does Braden mean?

Braden means broad valley from Old English, or salmon from Irish Gaelic Bradán.

When was Braden most popular?

Braden was a top 100 US boy name from the late 1990s through the 2010s.

How do you pronounce Braden?

Braden is pronounced BRAY-den with two syllables.

What are similar names to Braden?

Similar names include Brayden, Jayden, Aiden, and Hayden.

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