Gifford Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Gifford is of Old French origin, meaning 'gift' and 'brave' or 'strong'. The name evolved from Giffard in Old French to Gifford in Modern English. It reflects traits of strength and generosity, and it has no biblical relevance. Gifford gained popularity in England post-Norman Conquest and is currently viewed as a traditional name with a strong historical background.
The name Gifford is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Gifford has been stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Gifford' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1357th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1650th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1792nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3226th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6435th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 24088th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 17702nd out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Gifford' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Gifford"
Pronunciation
/ˈɡɪfərd/
Origin
Old French
Etymology
The name Gifford is derived from the Old French name 'Giffard', which itself is derived from the Germanic elements 'gifu' meaning 'gift' and 'hard' meaning 'brave' or 'strong'.
Meaning
gift, brave, strong
Language Evolution
Giffard (Old French), Gifford (Middle English), Gifford (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Gifford gained popularity in England during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century when many Norman names were adopted into the English language.
Variants & Derivatives
Giff, Giffordson
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Gifford is seen as a traditional name, often associated with a sense of heritage and strength.
Famous People
Gifford Pinchot - American forester and politician, Gifford McShane - American artist
Explore More Gifford Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Gifford"
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 "Gifford"
"Gifford" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1357th of 7545 | 456 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1650th of 6773 | 337 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1792nd of 7552 | 361 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3226th of 10718 | 161 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 6435th of 16616 | 92 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 24088th of 24088 | 5 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 17702nd of 23106 | 16 |
Regional Popularity of "Gifford" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
64.03% 883rd/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
67.99% 1058th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
64.77% 1574th/2430 |
- |
60.61% 1682nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Gifford" 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 "Gifford"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Gifford" 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.