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 August 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
- 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.