Bradford
Boy name · #3514 in 2025 · Uniqueness 89/100
Bradford is currently the #3514 boy name in the United States — 32 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2169, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 56,250 boys born in 2025 was named Bradford.
Babies named Bradford per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Bradford first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1953, when 779 boys were named Bradford — good for #240 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Bradford against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Bradford in class?
Bradford scores 89 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Bradford will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Bradford is most common
State-level data for Bradford is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Bradford
Statistically, parents drawn to Bradford tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Stafford, Gerard, Stewart, Carlton, and Jerald.
StaffordGerardStewartCarltonJeraldLeslieDwightFredrick
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Bradford | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 | #3513 |
| 2024 | 42 | #2958 |
| 2023 | 49 | #2660 |
| 2022 | 42 | #2962 |
| 2021 | 49 | #2623 |
| 2020 | 50 | #2546 |
| 2019 | 48 | #2656 |
| 2018 | 67 | #2101 |
| 2017 | 70 | #2014 |
| 2016 | 68 | #2066 |
| 2015 | 63 | #2169 |
| 2014 | 77 | #1884 |
| 2013 | 64 | #2090 |
| 2012 | 81 | #1818 |
| 2011 | 73 | #1905 |
| 2010 | 78 | #1850 |
| 2009 | 76 | #1889 |
| 2008 | 57 | #2291 |
| 2007 | 99 | #1576 |
| 2006 | 95 | #1551 |
| 2005 | 97 | #1485 |
| 2004 | 99 | #1425 |
| 2003 | 102 | #1341 |
| 2002 | 125 | #1139 |
| 2001 | 103 | #1283 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bradford a popular boy name?
Bradford ranked #3514 among boys in 2025 with 32 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2169.
When was the name Bradford most popular?
Bradford peaked in 1953, when 779 American boys received the name (ranked #240 that year). Since 1953 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Bradford?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 56,250 newborn American boys was named Bradford. It scores 89/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.