Bradley vs Nathan
Bradley and Nathancompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2005, Bradley was ranked #98 and Nathan #25 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2003, Bradley was ranked #76 and Nathan #34 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Bradley was ranked #246 and Nathan #62 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Bradley was ranked #372 and Nathan #71 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Bradley was ranked #364 and Nathan #88 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Bradley was ranked #404 and Nathan #118 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Bradley and Nathan over time
Bradley and Nathan appear together in 5 published lists, across 156 years of shared records. Nathan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Bradley in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Bradley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Nathan in 2. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1976, Nathan moved ahead of Bradley in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #22 and #23 the year before became #19 and #17.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Bradley and Nathan averaged 20.2 places apart, ending at #76 and #34.
- Longest-running competitions
Bradley and Nathan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 35 years, from 1969 to 2003, ending at #76 and #34.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Bradley #68 in 1998, Nathan #15 in 2000.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #31 and #27 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #364 and #88.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys35 shared years, 1969–2003
Bradley held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Nathan in 28.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #19 in 1976, Nathan #10 in 1981.
The order changed in 1976: Nathan moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #22 and #23; by 1976 that had become #19 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Bradley #76, Nathan #34.
Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 1987–2025
Bradley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nathan in 33.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #130 in 2015, Nathan #26 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bradley #372, Nathan #71.
New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 1973–2005
Bradley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nathan in 32.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #28 in 1998, Nathan #14 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Bradley #98, Nathan #25.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bradley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nathan in 29.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #28 in 1997, Nathan #24 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bradley #364, Nathan #88.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Bradley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nathan in 27.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #68 in 1998, Nathan #15 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bradley #404, Nathan #118.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Bradley | Nathan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Commonly interpreted as 'he gave' or 'he has given'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Biblical Hebrew |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈneɪθən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #71 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nathan has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Bradley does not have one recorded yet.
- Bradley and Nathan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Nathan; Bradley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Bradley
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1956–2003
Highest recorded position: #19 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1956–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Nathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #267 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1969–2018
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1981 (recorded 1969–2018).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #344 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys