Bradly
Primarily a boy's name of Old English origin with 9,332 recorded births. Also given to 11 girls.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Bradly is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old English origin, a simplified spelling of Bradley — from the Old English brad (broad, wide) and leah (meadow, clearing), meaning 'broad meadow.' The surname Bradley became a given name through its association with the American general Omar Bradley, one of WWII's most respected commanders.
With over 9,300 recorded births, Bradly has found consistent use as a streamlined variant of the popular Bradley. The dropped -e gives it a slightly more modern, no-frills written form.
EtymologyShow more
Though Bradly dates back to 1946 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Old English classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
Bradly’s 9,332 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Bradly was #1310 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #6202, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 81 | #5713 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 509 | #2933 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 1,235 | #1281 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 1,980 | #762 | — |
| 1980s | 2,111 | #614 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 1,629 | #647 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 1,163 | #711 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 567 | #1055 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 57 | #2294 | — |
The Story of Bradly
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1990, Bradly is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Bradly are most likely born between 1980 and 2000.
How rare is Bradly?
Only about 1 in every 257,143 babies born in 2024 was named Bradly — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1946, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1980s with 2,111 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Bradly by the numbers
- Would fill 194 school buses
- Meeting one Bradly per day would take 25.6 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(79 years, 1946–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14 | #6202 |
| 2023 | 12 | #6946 |
| 2022 | 21 | #4727 |
| 2021 | 19 | #4952 |
| 2020 | 15 | #5739 |
| 2019 | 15 | #5845 |
| 2018 | 35 | #3251 |
| 2017 | 35 | #3253 |
| 2016 | 27 | #3891 |
| 2015 | 35 | #3238 |
| 2014 | 65 | #2121 |
| 2013 | 62 | #2141 |
| 2012 | 67 | #2049 |
| 2011 | 74 | #1887 |
| 2010 | 94 | #1655 |
| 2009 | 87 | #1757 |
| 2008 | 114 | #1447 |
| 2007 | 108 | #1478 |
| 2006 | 129 | #1289 |
| 2005 | 125 | #1257 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Bradly as a Girl's Name
While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Bradly has also been given to 11 girls in the U.S. since 1986.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bradly a boy's or girl's name?
When was Bradly most popular?
How popular is the name Bradly?
Can Bradly be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1946–2024