Bradley
Bradley comes from the Old English "brād" (broad) and "leah" (meadow, clearing) — meaning "broad meadow." The name began as a surname referring to someone from such a place, then crossed to first-name usage in the mid-20th century. The M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, used by the US Army, is named after General Omar Bradley (1893-1981), one of the great American commanders of WWII. Bradley was a top-200 American name from 1960 to 2000, peaking at #54 in 1980. The peak was driven partly by Bradley Cooper (born 1975), the actor known for "The Hangover" (2009), "Silver Linings Playbook" (2012), and "A Star Is Born" (2018), which he also directed. Bradley (the surname of the physicist W. L. Bradley) gave the name academic weight. I find Bradley has a slightly formal quality — the "Br" opening is firm, and the "ley" ending gives it a slight English-genteel texture. The name has been outside the US top 300 since 2014. Bradley is a male name of English (place name) origin that means "Broad meadow". Formal, capable, and a little 80s. The name sounds approachable. Bradleys tend to be social. US peaked #54 in 1980. Now top 300. Well-known people named Bradley include General Omar Bradley (WWII commander), Bradley Cooper (actor), Bradley (English place name), Bradley (fictional, various). Common variations and related forms of Bradley include Brad (short form), Bradly (variant), Bradlee (variant), Bradleigh (variant).