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Home › Baby Names Directory › Bradford

Bradford

♂ Boy

Pronounced BRAD-ferd /ˈbræd.fərd/High

Meaning: Broad ford; a wide river crossing placeHigh

In 30 seconds: Bradford is an Old English place name and surname meaning 'broad ford,' adopted as a first name in the 19th century, particularly popular in the United States.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningBroad ford; a wide river crossing place
U.S. rank (2025)#3522 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births32 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1953
Total births (all-time)≈ 32,074

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195318802025

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

Bradford originated as an Old English topographic name composed of brad (broad) and ford (river crossing). It referred to settlements near wide, shallow river fords.

As a given name, Bradford gained traction in 19th-century America as part of a broader trend of using English surnames as first names. It carried an air of established New England heritage, partly through association with William Bradford, the Pilgrim leader.

Did you know? Bradford, West Yorkshire in England is one of England's largest cities and was once the wool capital of the world — the city's name shares the same 'broad ford' etymology as the given name.
Overall data confidence 93%
Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names — Brad + ford etymologyBehind the Name — Bradford surname-to-given-name transition

Variations

BradfieldBradfort

Nicknames

BradFord

Famous Bearers

  • ★William Bradford (1590–1657)
    English Separatist leader who sailed on the Mayflower and served as the longtime governor of Plymouth Colony.

If you like Bradford…

Bradley— shares Brad- prefix and Old English surname origin
Brandon— similar -on ending surname-to-first-name pattern
Brantley— comparable two-syllable English surname used as first name
Willard— echoes that soft -rd sound
Bayron— a fellow Old English choice

Explore names like Bradford

By themeamericanclassicsurname-nameplace-nameold-english
By meaningSea / Water

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Bradford mean?

Bradford means 'broad ford,' from Old English brad (broad) and ford (river crossing). It began as a place name before becoming a surname and then a given name.

How do you pronounce Bradford?

Bradford is pronounced BRAD-ferd, with stress on the first syllable.

Is Bradford a boy or girl name?

Bradford is traditionally a boy's name with strong masculine usage throughout its history.

How popular is Bradford?

Bradford peaked in mid-20th-century America and remains in occasional use, appreciated for its classic, distinguished feel.

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