UK boy's name
Bradleigh
A masculine name considered an elaboration of Bradley, derived from an Old English surname.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2013. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Bradleigh is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Bradleigh popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2013 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4685, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 21 births.
This profile covers 145 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 1996 to 2013. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 14% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 143 living people in the UK are called Bradleigh. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2014 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Bradleigh ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales in 2013, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 21 boys were registered as Bradleigh.
- • About 143 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bradleigh as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4685
2013
Births in 2013
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
21 births
Estimated living
143
2026
Meaning
What does Bradleigh mean?
The name Bradleigh is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, potentially as a locational surname derived from the Old English words "brad" (meaning broad) and "leah" (meaning a meadow or clearing). Its earliest recorded spellings include Bradeleye and Bradelee, both found in the Domesday Book of 1086.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Richard de Bradelee, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1197. In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Bradeley, Bradelegh, and Bradeleygh, reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.
While the name Bradleigh does not appear to have any direct references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its English origins and association with rural landscapes align with the cultural and linguistic traditions of the region during the medieval period.
Among notable historical figures with the name Bradleigh, one can mention Sir Thomas Bradleigh (c. 1548-1624), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wigan during the reign of Elizabeth I. Another prominent bearer was William Bradleigh (1594-1675), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge in the mid-17th century.
In the 18th century, Bradleigh Walters (1725-1794) was a British military officer who served in the Royal Navy and played a role in the American Revolutionary War. Moving into the 19th century, Bradleigh Ellery (1801-1876) was an American poet and educator from Massachusetts, known for his contributions to the literary scene of the time.
One of the more recent historical figures with the name was Bradleigh Mills (1882-1938), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the early 20th century.
While the name Bradleigh has maintained a presence throughout history, its popularity has fluctuated over time, reflecting the changing trends and preferences in naming conventions across different eras and regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bradleigh over time
The chart below shows babies named Bradleigh registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2013. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Bradleigh, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2013, compared with 21 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bradleigh by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bradleigh was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4745 | 6 | 2 |
| 2000s | #2263 | 74 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1014 | 65 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Bradleigh
- Benjamin 90,412
- Ben 36,356
- Bradley 30,230
- Brandon 26,411
- Billy 18,608
- Bobby 16,904
- Blake 16,337
- Bailey 16,014
- Brody 7,230
- Beau 6,722
- Barnaby 5,284
- Brodie 4,801
FAQ
Bradleigh: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bradleigh in the UK right now?
In 2013, Bradleigh was ranked #4685 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Bradleigh most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 21 babies registered as Bradleigh in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bradleigh?
A masculine name considered an elaboration of Bradley, derived from an Old English surname.
How many people are called Bradleigh in the UK?
A total of 145 babies have been registered as Bradleigh across the 16 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.