Holding steady.
Popularity of Linford since 1896
Babies named Linford per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Linford's real moment was 1896.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 0 |
| 1910s | 83 |
| 1920s | 144 |
| 1930s | 121 |
| 1940s | 114 |
| 1950s | 100 |
| 1960s | 73 |
| 1970s | 32 |
| 1980s | 37 |
| 1990s | 23 |
| 2000s | 30 |
| 2010s | 17 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Linford is a rare given name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1896, its peak year, but it has never ranked among the top 1,000 names. Historically used as a surname transferred to the first name, Linford derives from an English place name meaning 'lime-tree ford'. The name has remained consistently stable in its rarity, with no recorded usage in recent decades. It is primarily associated with British sprinter Linford Christie, though the name itself has never achieved widespread popularity.
Linford is derived from the Old English words lind, meaning 'lime tree', and ford, meaning 'ford'. It originated as a locational surname for someone who lived near a ford marked by lime trees. The name is notably associated with English Olympic athlete Linford Christie, born in 1960.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lin
Variants: Lindford, Linforth
Sibling names for Linford
Names that share Linford's style, for a brother or sister.
