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Bracken

Boy name · 3 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Bracken: 3 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 3 births in 2025.

Bracken is a nature-inspired name taken directly from the Old English word for the coarse, tall fern that carpets Scottish hillsides and moorlands. It likely entered use as a surname for someone living near such ferns before gaining traction as a first name in recent decades. Unusually for a nature name, it has no prominent historical bearers, though it carries a rugged, outdoorsy quality that appeals to modern parents seeking something earthy. The name shares its root with the Gaelic word *brake*, meaning a thicket or ferny area, and you'll find Bracken as a place name in several Scottish locations, such as Bracken Brae and the Bracken Plantation. A subtle literary link exists to *Bracken*, the spirited horse in Enid Bagnold's classic novel *National Velvet*, though the connection remains faint.