How to say it
BRAY · den
ˈbreɪ.dən
Masculine
Brayden
Salmon, or 'broad valley'
What it means
Modern American respelling of Braden, from the Irish surname Ó Bradáin ('descendant of Bradán,' the personal name meaning 'salmon'). The -aden ending also evokes the English Bredon ('broad valley'). Part of the early-2000s -ayden cluster (Jayden, Cayden, Aiden, Hayden).
Brayden is a modern American respelling of Braden, from the Irish surname Ó Bradáin meaning 'descendant of Bradán' (the personal name meaning 'salmon'). The salmon was a sacred fish in Irish mythology (the Salmon of Knowledge). The double-spelling Brayden surfaced in the US in the 1990s as part of the -ayden cluster that includes Jayden, Cayden, Aiden, and Hayden. It peaked in the US top 50 around 2010-2012 and has been declining since. The name reads as quintessentially modern American, with no deep historical bearer; the appeal is the rhythmic -ayden ending. Common short: Bray.
How to spell Brayden
The standard spelling is Brayden. Common variants include Braden, Braeden, Braiden, Braydon, but Brayden is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #36 in 2011, currently #229 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Braden (single-vowel), Braeden, Braiden, and Brayden are all the same name; Brayden is the dominant US spelling since the late 1990s.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Brayden Schenn Canadian NHL center, St. Louis Blues, 2019 Stanley Cup winner
Spelling variants
- Braden
- Braeden
- Braiden
- Braydon
Names with the same feeling
See Brayden from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Brayden mean?
- Modern American respelling of Braden, from the Irish surname Ó Bradáin ('descendant of Bradán,' the personal name meaning 'salmon'). The -aden ending also evokes the English Bredon ('broad valley'). Part of the early-2000s -ayden cluster (Jayden, Cayden, Aiden, Hayden).
- What does Brayden mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Brayden means "Salmon, or 'broad valley'." Brayden is a modern American respelling of Braden, from the Irish surname Ó Bradáin meaning 'descendant of Bradán' (the personal name meaning 'salmon'). The salmon was a sacred fish in Irish mythology (the Salmon of Knowledge). The double-spelling Brayden surfaced in the US in the 1990s as part of the -ayden cluster that includes Jayden, Cayden, Aiden, and Hayden. It peaked in the US top 50 around 2010-2012 and has been declining since. The name reads as quintessentially modern American, with no deep historical bearer; the appeal is the rhythmic -ayden ending. Common short: Bray.
- How do you pronounce Brayden?
- Brayden is pronounced ˈbreɪ.dən. Say it as BRAY-den, with the stress on the "bray" syllable.
- How do you spell Brayden?
- The standard spelling is Brayden. Common spelling variants include Braden, Braeden, Braiden, Braydon.
- Is Brayden a boy or girl name?
- Brayden is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Brayden?
- Brayden ranked #229 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.