Braydan
Of Celtic origin, meaning "brave" or "derived from the broad valley".
Name Census estimates that about 1,169 living Americans carry the first name Braydan. It is a predominantly male name (99.2% of registrations). The average person named Braydan today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Braydan births was 2009 (90 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Braydan. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Braydan is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 17 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.2K
~ 1 in 293,203 Americans
Peak year
2009
90 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,018
Tracked since 1992
Gender
Gender distribution for Braydan
Out of the 1,181 babies given the name Braydan since 1880, 99.2% were registered as male. The name sits firmly on the male side of the spectrum, with only a handful of female registrations across the entire dataset.
Braydan as a male name
- Ranked #10,018 in 2024
- 7 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2009 (90 births)
Braydan as a female name
- Ranked #18,077 in 2007
- 5 female births in 2007
- Peak: 2002 (5 births)
Popularity
Braydan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Braydan from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 564 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Braydan by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Braydan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Braydans live
The SSA's state-level files cover 15 states and territories. Ohio, Texas, Pennsylvania recorded the most babies named Braydan, while West Virginia, Wisconsin, Oklahoma recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 13 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Braydan
The name Braydan is a modern invention, likely originating in the late 20th century. It appears to be a combination of the names Brandon and Brayden, both of which have their roots in ancient Celtic languages.
Brandon is derived from the Old Celtic elements "bran" meaning "raven" or "crow," and the Old Welsh word "bronn" meaning "prince" or "noble." The name was first recorded in England in the 11th century and was popularized through several medieval legends and tales.
Brayden, on the other hand, is a more recent variation of the Irish name Brádan, which means "salmon" or "speckled one." This name has its origins in the Gaelic language and was first documented in Ireland in the 16th century.
While the name Braydan itself is a relatively new creation, it draws upon the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the Celtic peoples. The blending of the elements "bran" and "brádan" creates a name that evokes associations with nature, nobility, and the ancient Celtic traditions.
Despite its modern origins, the name Braydan has been adopted by a number of notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded bearers of this name was Braydan O'Malley, an Irish politician and member of the Dáil Éireann, who lived from 1885 to 1962.
In the realm of sports, Braydan Schenn, a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the St. Louis Blues in the NHL, was born in 1991. Another notable figure is Braydan Neumann, an Australian actor and singer, known for his roles in several television series and musicals.
Another individual worth mentioning is Braydan Willauer, an American entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded the Willauer Foundation, dedicated to supporting education and environmental initiatives. He was born in 1976 and continues to make significant contributions to various charitable causes.
It's important to note that while the name Braydan has gained popularity in recent decades, particularly in North America and parts of Europe, its usage and historical significance are relatively limited compared to more traditional names with deeper roots in various cultures and languages.
People
Braydan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Braydan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Braydan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Braydan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,169 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Braydan going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 293,203 US residents.
Is Braydan a common name?
We classify Braydan as "Rare". It ranks above 91.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,181 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Braydan most popular?
The single biggest year for Braydan was 2009, when 90 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Braydan is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Braydan a male name?
Yes, 99.2% of people registered as Braydan in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.