Raeford Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Raeford has its roots in Old English, meaning 'raven river crossing'. It evolved through historical forms such as Raford and Rae Ford. The name is associated with traits of strength and connection to nature. There is no significant biblical relevance. Raeford gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and is currently viewed as a unique name with Southern heritage.
The name Raeford is most popular in North Carolina, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent 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, Raeford has been stalled for male in South. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in South. Across generations, 'Raeford' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2670th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2113th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2605th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6035th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 15172nd out of 16616 names. Discover how the name 'Raeford' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Raeford"
Pronunciation
/ˈreɪfərd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Raeford is derived from the Old English elements 'raef' meaning 'raven' and 'ford' meaning 'river crossing' or 'ford'.
Meaning
Raven river crossing
Language Evolution
Raeford, Raford, Rae Ford
Historical Usage
Raeford gained popularity as a given name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the United States.
Variants & Derivatives
Rafe, Rayford, Raf
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Raeford is perceived as a unique and traditional name, often associated with Southern heritage in the United States.
Famous People
Raeford B. Brown - American politician, Raeford L. McDonald - American educator
Explore More Raeford Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Raeford"
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 "Raeford"
"Raeford" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 2670th of 7545 | 152 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2113th of 6773 | 224 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2605th of 7552 | 188 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 6035th of 10718 | 42 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 15172nd of 16616 | 7 |
Regional Popularity of "Raeford" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
40.87% 967th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
39.10% 920th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
40.73% 1162nd/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
60.35% 2123rd/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
67.60% 3511th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Raeford" 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 "Raeford"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Raeford" 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.