A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Stafford since 1882
Babies named Stafford per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1959, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Stafford's real moment was 1901.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 18 |
| 1890s | 0 |
| 1900s | 31 |
| 1910s | 244 |
| 1920s | 295 |
| 1930s | 248 |
| 1940s | 305 |
| 1950s | 419 |
| 1960s | 398 |
| 1970s | 213 |
| 1980s | 188 |
| 1990s | 168 |
| 2000s | 92 |
| 2010s | 131 |
| 2020s | 100 |
Meaning & origin
Stafford is a rare English given name, historically drawn from a prominent English surname. Its earliest recorded use in the United States dates to 1882, and it reached its peak popularity in 1901. In 2025, the name ranked 3848th, with an incidence of roughly 1 in 61,003 births, indicating it remains uncommon. Since 2004, Stafford has been on a gradual upward trajectory in usage, suggesting renewed interest after decades of rarity. Its highest concentration of use in recent years has been in North Carolina. Stafford carries the strong, place-derived feel of many revived surname names, appealing to parents seeking a distinctive yet familiar-sounding choice.
Stafford is an English surname derived from a place name in Staffordshire. The place name comes from Old English 'stæð' meaning 'landing place' or 'bank' and 'ford' meaning 'ford', thus 'landing place by the ford'. The surname was borne by a powerful medieval family, the Staffords, and was occasionally used as a given name in their honor. As a first name it has remained rare, with modest use in England and the United States.
Where Stafford is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Staff
Sibling names for Stafford
Names that share Stafford's style, for a brother or sister.
