Milford Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Milford is an Old English name meaning 'mill ford', indicating a settlement near a mill and a river crossing. It evolved from Miliford in Old English to its current form in Modern English. The name is not biblically related but has historical roots in English geography and settlement. It is currently perceived as traditional and charming, with variants like Milly and Millie. Notable figures associated with the name include Milford Graves, a well-known jazz musician.
The name Milford is most popular in Alabama, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest 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, Milford has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled 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, 'Milford' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 404th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 491st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 870th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1816th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 5393rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 22675th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 21740th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 8441st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 8681st out of 9204 names. Discover how the name 'Milford' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Milford"
Pronunciation
/ˈmɪlfərd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Milford is derived from the Old English elements 'mil' meaning 'mill' and 'ford' meaning 'river crossing' or 'ford'. It originally referred to a settlement near a river crossing where a mill was located.
Meaning
Mill ford
Language Evolution
Old English: Miliford, Middle English: Miliford, Modern English: Milford
Historical Usage
Milford has been used as a place name and personal name since the medieval period, gaining popularity particularly in England during the 19th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Milly, Millie, Ford
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Milford is recognized as a quaint and traditional name, often associated with small towns and rural settings.
Famous People
Milford Graves - American jazz drummer and educator, Milford Sound - A famous fjord in New Zealand, though a geographical name, it has contributed to the name's recognition.
Explore More Milford Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Milford"
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 "Milford"
"Milford" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 404th of 7545 | 3,477 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 491st of 6773 | 2,571 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 870th of 7552 | 1,365 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1816th of 10718 | 397 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 5393rd of 16616 | 128 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 22675th of 24088 | 6 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 21740th of 23106 | 6 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 8441st of 9107 | 7 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 8681st of 9204 | 6 |
Regional Popularity of "Milford" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
20.76% 294th/1416 |
27.99% 386th/1379 |
19.48% 461st/2366 |
73.29% 837th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
27.68% 428th/1546 |
30.85% 480th/1556 |
21.76% 512th/2353 |
73.11% 1131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
40.82% 909th/2227 |
34.77% 845th/2430 |
31.09% 887th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
54.72% 1925th/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Milford" 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 "Milford"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Milford" 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.