A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Wilford since 1880
Babies named Wilford per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1926, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Wilford's real moment was 1911.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 170 |
| 1890s | 191 |
| 1900s | 246 |
| 1910s | 1,698 |
| 1920s | 2,492 |
| 1930s | 1,689 |
| 1940s | 1,346 |
| 1950s | 1,071 |
| 1960s | 598 |
| 1970s | 390 |
| 1980s | 228 |
| 1990s | 127 |
| 2000s | 72 |
| 2010s | 86 |
| 2020s | 38 |
Meaning & origin
Wilford is a surname-derived given name that saw its greatest popularity in the early 20th century. According to Social Security data, the name peaked in 1911, when it was most frequently recorded. After a long period of decline, it has been rising in popularity since 2020, though it remains rare: in 2025, it ranked 8,243rd with an incidence of 1 in 189,786 births. The name carries an old-fashioned, pastoral feel, rooted in the English countryside. As a revival name from the 1910s, Wilford appeals to parents seeking distinctive heritage names.
Wilford is an English surname transferred to given name use, derived from a place name composed of the Old English elements 'welig' (willow) and 'ford' (ford). It originally referred to someone who lived near a willow-ford. The name saw modest use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States, peaking in popularity around 1911.
Where Wilford is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Will, Willy, Ford
Sibling names for Wilford
Names that share Wilford's style, for a brother or sister.
