Bradford
Boy name · #3514 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Bradford? In official American birth records, Bradford has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Bradford is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". 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 too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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
How old is the name Bradford?
In official American birth records, the name Bradford first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.