Ford Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'Ford' has its origins in Old English, meaning 'river crossing'. It has evolved from Old English to Modern English, retaining its meaning throughout. The name is often associated with strength and tradition, and it gained popularity in the 20th century largely due to the success of the Ford Motor Company. There is no biblical relevance to this name, and it has variants such as 'Forde'. Notable figures include Henry Ford and Gerald Ford.
The name Ford is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Ford has been falling for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Ford' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 671st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1077th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1196th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2222nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2671st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1790th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 612th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 22546th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Ford' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Ford"
Pronunciation
/fɔrd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name 'Ford' originates from the Old English word 'ford', meaning a shallow place in a river or stream where one can cross.
Meaning
river crossing
Language Evolution
Old English: ford, Middle English: ford, Modern English: Ford
Historical Usage
The name became more popular as a surname in England and later in the United States, especially in the 20th century due to the prominence of the Ford Motor Company.
Variants & Derivatives
Forde, Fords
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, 'Ford' is commonly associated with the automotive industry and is perceived as a strong, traditional name.
Famous People
Henry Ford, Gerald Ford
Explore More Ford Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Ford"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Ford"
"Ford" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 671st of 7545 | 1,441 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1077th of 6773 | 698 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1196th of 7552 | 763 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2222nd of 10718 | 291 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2671st of 16616 | 367 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1790th of 24088 | 1,157 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 612th of 23106 | 5,426 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 22546th of 30306 | 17 |
Regional Popularity of "Ford" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
38.84% 550th/1416 |
60.04% 828th/1379 |
27.64% 654th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
58.47% 904th/1546 |
75.26% 1171st/1556 |
62.60% 1473rd/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
44.63% 994th/2227 |
53.21% 1293rd/2430 |
61.62% 1758th/2853 |
41.95% 1164th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
- | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
63.49% 2841st/4475 |
53.58% 2783rd/5194 |
55.42% 3501st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
50.13% 2297th/4582 |
46.86% 2420th/5164 |
23.01% 1683rd/7313 |
21.65% 1616th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
14.58% 581st/3984 |
15.87% 712th/4487 |
9.07% 619th/6822 |
8.56% 537th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Ford" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Ford"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Ford" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.