Braden is a name of English origin, derived from the Old English word "brad" which means "broad". It is believed to have been used as a given name since at least the 19th century, although it was not particularly common until more recent times.
The name Braden has several possible meanings and associations. Some people believe that it refers to someone who is wide or broad in some way, perhaps physically or metaphorically, such as being broad-minded or having a broad range of interests. Others interpret the name as meaning "from the broad valley", referring to the fact that many places with the word "broad" in their name are located near valleys.
There is also some debate about whether Braden should be considered a first name or a surname. In some cases, it may have been used as a surname for people who lived near a place called Broad, such as Broadstone in Dorset, England. However, there are also examples of Braden being used as a given name since at least the 19th century.
Overall, Braden is a strong and distinctive name with a long history and several possible meanings. It is not particularly common, but has been used by notable individuals throughout history, such as American basketball player Braden Wright and British musician Braden Curry.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Braden has seen varying popularity over the years in the United States. The earliest recorded birth with the name Braden was in 1975, with a total of 6 births that year. However, it wasn't until a decade later that the name began to gain more traction, with 8 births in 1987 and another 8 in 1991.
The late 1990s and early 2000s saw a significant increase in the popularity of the name Braden. Between 1993 and 2002, there were at least 10 births each year, with peaks of 18 births in 1995, 24 births in 2002, and 22 births both in 2000 and 2004. This period marks the highest point of popularity for the name Braden in the United States.
However, after 2006, the popularity of the name began to decline. There were only 6 births each year between 2007 and 2009, with a slight increase to 7 births in 2012. The most recent data available shows that there were 5 births in 2013.
In total, over the period from 1975 to 2013, there were 277 recorded births with the name Braden in the United States. While it's clear that the popularity of this name has fluctuated over time, its consistent presence on the birth records indicates that it continues to be a recognizable and meaningful choice for parents across several decades.