Holding steady.
Popularity of Guilford since 1885
Babies named Guilford per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1923, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Guilford's real moment was 1890.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 8 |
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 130 |
| 1920s | 165 |
| 1930s | 100 |
| 1940s | 88 |
| 1950s | 67 |
| 1960s | 16 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Guilford is a rare English name that functions primarily as a transferred surname. Its popularity peaked in 1890, though even then it was uncommon. The name has never ranked in national popularity charts, with its highest usage occurring around the late 19th century. Guilford has a stable trajectory with no recent revival, and it remains a highly distinctive choice. The name lacks strong regional associations in the United States, with no dominant state usage recorded.
Guilford is an English surname derived from a place name, likely from the Old English elements 'gilda' (meaning 'marigold') or 'gylden' (meaning 'golden') and 'ford' (a shallow river crossing). The surname Guilford has been in use since the medieval period, but its adoption as a given name is rare and primarily occurred in the late 19th century in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gil, Ford
Variants: Gilford, Guildford
Sibling names for Guilford
Names that share Guilford's style, for a brother or sister.
