Bradford
Bradford is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Broad ford or wide river crossing.
Origin and history
Bradford originates as an Old English habitational surname referring to a broad river crossing. Historically used in the United States, it peaked in popularity in the mid-to-late 20th century and remains a classic traditional surname-name. Today, it is used less frequently for newborn boys.
Popularity in the United States
32,075 babies in the United States have been named Bradford since 1880. It ranks #656 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1663.
States where it is most popular
- MA (10.3 %)
- CA (10.2 %)
- NY (6.5 %)
- TX (5.1 %)
- OH (5.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 20 |
| 1890-1900 | 59 |
| 1900-1910 | 86 |
| 1910-1920 | 513 |
| 1920-1930 | 818 |
| 1930-1940 | 998 |
| 1940-1950 | 2,418 |
| 1950-1960 | 6,693 |
| 1960-1970 | 5,794 |
| 1970-1980 | 5,710 |
| 1980-1990 | 4,745 |
| 1990-2000 | 2,292 |
| 2000-2010 | 976 |
| 2010-2019 | 689 |
| 2020-2029 | 264 |
Famous people named Bradford
- Bradford Cox: Musician, Singer
- Bradford Anderson: Actor
- Bradford Dillman: Actor
Nicknames
Brad, Ford
Fun facts
- The name originally designated someone who lived near a wide part of a river that could be crossed on foot.
- Bradford offers two distinct standard short forms: Brad at the beginning and Ford at the end.