Medford Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Medford is an Old English name meaning 'river crossing by a meadow'. It evolved from Old English through Middle English to Modern English. The name is associated with various places and carries a traditional image. It has no direct biblical relevance.
The name Medford is most popular in Maryland, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South 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, Medford has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in South. Across generations, 'Medford' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1786th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2083rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3204th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 9331st out of 10718 names. Discover how the name 'Medford' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Medford"
Pronunciation
/ˈmɛdfərd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Medford is derived from the Old English words 'mæd' meaning 'meadow' and 'ford' meaning 'river crossing' or 'ford'. Thus, it essentially refers to a river crossing by a meadow.
Meaning
river crossing by a meadow
Language Evolution
Old English: mæd-ford, Middle English: Medeford, Modern English: Medford
Historical Usage
Medford is a name that gained popularity in England, particularly in the medieval period, and has since been used as a place name and a surname.
Variants & Derivatives
Medford, Medfurd, Meddford
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Medford is perceived as a traditional and historical name, often associated with various places in the United States, such as Medford, Massachusetts, and Medford, Oregon.
Famous People
Medford Evans, Medford J. D. L. T. Smith
Explore More Medford Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Medford"
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 "Medford"
"Medford" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1786th of 7545 | 297 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2083rd of 6773 | 231 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3204th of 7552 | 127 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 9331st of 10718 | 10 |
Regional Popularity of "Medford" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
96.75% 2289th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
73.67% 1139th/1546 |
- |
95.07% 2237th/2353 |
- |
| 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) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Medford" 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 "Medford"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Medford" 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.