Holding steady, #8,243 for boys today.
Popularity of Ashford since 1914
Babies named Ashford per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1988, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ashford's real moment was 1914.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 19 |
| 1920s | 35 |
| 1930s | 12 |
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 16 |
| 1960s | 10 |
| 1970s | 38 |
| 1980s | 130 |
| 1990s | 52 |
| 2000s | 41 |
| 2010s | 86 |
| 2020s | 58 |
Meaning & origin
Ashford is a rare English name that first appeared on U.S. records in 1914, when it reached its peak rank of 8,243. In the latest data from 2025, it ranked 8,243 again, given to roughly 1 in 189,786 male newborns. The name has remained extremely uncommon and stable over the past century, never appearing in any top state lists. As a surname-derived given name, Ashford offers a subtle connection to English geography and nature, standing out for its quiet rarity.
Ashford derives from Old English æsc 'ash tree' and ford 'ford,' originally a place name for settlements near a ford by ash trees. It emerged as a surname in medieval England, later adopted as a given name, particularly in the 20th century, though it has never been common.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ash, Ford
Sibling names for Ashford
Names that share Ashford's style, for a brother or sister.
