Name meaning & stats
Bradley
Bradley means “broad meadow”. 311,481 US babies since 1940, peak 1980. Notable Bradleys are 1.7× over-represented as footballers.
What it means
“broad meadow”
Well documented
Originally a surname.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1980
311,481 US babies were named Bradley between 1940 and 2025.
Where Bradleys end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Footballer | 1.7× | High · 37 people |
| Actor | 1.1× | Medium · 20 people |
| Basketball player | 1.1× | Medium · 19 people |
| Politician | 0.7× | Medium · 15 people |
Among notable men who are footballers, Bradleys show up 1.7× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Bradley has a surprise career: 1.4×
Spelling family
Bradley is the main spelling
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1980)