UK boy's name
Bradly
Derived from an old English surname referring to a broad meadow or clearing.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Bradly is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Bradly popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3227, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 11 births.
This profile covers 92 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1996 to 2009. 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 45% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 91 living people in the UK are called Bradly. 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 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Bradly ranked #3227 for boys in England and Wales in 2009, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 11 boys were registered as Bradly.
- • About 91 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bradly as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3227
2009
Births in 2009
5
Latest year
Peak year
2000
11 births
Estimated living
91
2026
Meaning
What does Bradly mean?
The name Bradly originated in England during the Middle Ages, derived from the Old English words "brad" meaning broad, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing. It was initially used as a surname to describe someone who lived near a broad meadow. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "Bradelegh."
Over time, Bradly transitioned from a surname to a given name, particularly popular among the English gentry and nobility. One of the earliest known individuals with the name Bradly was Sir Bradly Granville, a Knight of the Garter who lived during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century.
In the 15th century, Bradly Donne, an English courtier and diplomat, served under King Henry VIII and played a crucial role in negotiating the treaty of Calais in 1521. Another notable figure was Bradly Stafford, a member of the House of Lords and a prominent figure during the Wars of the Roses in the late 15th century.
During the Elizabethan era, Bradly Shakespeare, a distant relative of the famous playwright William Shakespeare, was a renowned actor and playwright in his own right. He is known for his collaborations with Shakespeare and his contributions to the development of English theater.
In the 17th century, Bradly Fairfax was a prominent English military commander who fought for the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War. He played a crucial role in several battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645, which marked a decisive victory for the Parliamentarians.
Bradly Wordsworth, born in 1770, was a celebrated English Romantic poet who is considered one of the greatest poets of his era. His works, such as "Tintern Abbey" and "Ode: Intimations of Immortality," are widely studied and admired for their lyrical beauty and philosophical depth.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who carried the name Bradly. While the name has evolved over time, its origins can be traced back to the English countryside, where it was used to describe those living near broad meadows.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bradly over time
The chart below shows babies named Bradly registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2009. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Bradly, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2009, compared with 11 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bradly by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bradly 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #2448 | 69 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2074 | 23 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Bradly
- 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
Bradly: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bradly in the UK right now?
In 2009, Bradly was ranked #3227 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Bradly most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 11 babies registered as Bradly in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bradly?
Derived from an old English surname referring to a broad meadow or clearing.
How many people are called Bradly in the UK?
A total of 92 babies have been registered as Bradly across the 14 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.