Bracken
Bracken (Pteridium) is a genus of large, cosmopolitan, coarse ferns in the family Dennstaedtiaceae. Ferns (Pteridophyta) are vascular plants that undergo alternation of generations, having both large plants (sporophytes) that produce spores and small plants (gametophytes) that produce sex cells in its life cycle. Brackens are noted for their large, highly divided leaves.
Meaning & Origin of Bracken
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Bracken (Pteridium) is a genus of large, cosmopolitan, coarse ferns in the family Dennstaedtiaceae. Ferns (Pteridophyta) are vascular plants that undergo alternation of generations, having both large plants (sporophytes) that produce spores and small plants (gametophytes) that produce sex cells in its life cycle. Brackens are noted for their large, highly divided leaves.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Bracken
Bracken first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1971, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1998, when 31 Brackens were born — ranking #2,651 that year. As of 2026, Bracken ranks #12,230 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 610 Brackens have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Bracken
Phonetically similar names — useful when Bracken is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bracken
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About the name Bracken
Bracken is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1971 and has accumulated 610 births in the dataset. Bracken's peak popularity came in 1998 when it ranked #2,651. Use the chart and map above to compare Bracken's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
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Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.