How to say it
BRAX · ton
ˈbræk.stən
Masculine
Braxton
Brock's settlement
What it means
English place name from Old English Brocc (a personal name meaning 'badger') + tun ('settlement'). Originally a surname. Toni Braxton the singer (Un-Break My Heart, 1996) is the dominant English-language anchor.
Braxton is an English place name from the Old English Brocc (a personal name meaning 'badger') + tūn ('settlement, enclosure'), giving 'Brock's settlement.' Originally a surname tied to villages in northern England. John Braxton Hicks the English physician (1823-1897) gave his surname to Braxton Hicks contractions, the pre-labor uterine contractions that almost every pregnancy textbook names. Toni Braxton the American singer (born 1967; Un-Break My Heart, 1996; seven Grammy Awards) is the dominant English-language anchor for the name in the African American community. As a US first name Braxton is modern: rare before 2000, then climbing. It entered the US top 200 in 2013. Common short: Brax.
How to spell Braxton
The standard spelling is Braxton. Common variants include Braxston, Braxon, but Braxton is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #118 in 2017, currently #172 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed August 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Braxton Hicks contractions are the pre-labor reference some parents instinctively know; Toni Braxton's career anchors the African American naming use.
Who's worn it
- Toni Braxton American singer, seven-time Grammy winner, Un-Break My Heart
- John Braxton Hicks English physician, identified Braxton Hicks contractions in 1872
Spelling variants
- Braxston
- Braxon
Names with the same feeling
See Braxton from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Braxton mean?
- English place name from Old English Brocc (a personal name meaning 'badger') + tun ('settlement'). Originally a surname. Toni Braxton the singer (Un-Break My Heart, 1996) is the dominant English-language anchor.
- What does Braxton mean in English?
- In English, Braxton means "Brock's settlement." Braxton is an English place name from the Old English Brocc (a personal name meaning 'badger') + tūn ('settlement, enclosure'), giving 'Brock's settlement.' Originally a surname tied to villages in northern England. John Braxton Hicks the English physician (1823-1897) gave his surname to Braxton Hicks contractions, the pre-labor uterine contractions that almost every pregnancy textbook names. Toni Braxton the American singer (born 1967; Un-Break My Heart, 1996; seven Grammy Awards) is the dominant English-language anchor for the name in the African American community. As a US first name Braxton is modern: rare before 2000, then climbing. It entered the US top 200 in 2013. Common short: Brax.
- How do you pronounce Braxton?
- Braxton is pronounced ˈbræk.stən. Say it as BRAX-ton, with the stress on the "brax" syllable.
- How do you spell Braxton?
- The standard spelling is Braxton. Common spelling variants include Braxston, Braxon.
- Is Braxton a boy or girl name?
- Braxton is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Braxton?
- Braxton ranked #172 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.