Find out how popular the first name Bridges has been for the last 21 years (from 2003 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Bridges by gender

Based on the last 21 years of data, Bridges is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Bridges.

The history of the first name Bridges

The name Bridges is an English surname that has been adopted as a given name. It is derived from the Old English word "brycg," which means "a bridge" or "a causeway." The name likely originated as a nickname or occupational name for someone who lived near a bridge or worked as a bridge builder or toll collector.

The earliest recorded use of the name Bridges dates back to the 13th century in England. One of the earliest known individuals with this name was John Bridges, a 13th-century English landowner and knight from Hertfordshire.

In the 16th century, John Bridges (c. 1536-1618) was a notable English author, historian, and ecclesiastical biographer. He is best known for his work "A Defence of the Government Established in the Church of Englande for Ecclesiasticall Matters," published in 1587.

Another notable bearer of the name was Thomas Bridges (1693-1768), an English poet and translator. He is best known for his translations of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, as well as works by other classical Greek and Roman authors.

Robert Bridges (1844-1930) was a highly respected English poet and appointed Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom in 1913. He is particularly known for his contributions to the revival of the English literary Renaissance and his advocacy for the use of traditional forms in poetry.

Historically, the name Bridges has also been associated with the arts and entertainment industry. One example is Beau Bridges (born 1941), an American actor and director known for his roles in films such as "The Fabulous Baker Boys" and "The Descendants." He is the son of the famous actor Lloyd Bridges (1913-1998).

While the name Bridges is not as common as other English names, it has a rich history and has been borne by notable individuals across various fields throughout the centuries.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Bridges was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bridges, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!