Sanford Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Sanford is of Old English origin, meaning 'sandy river crossing'. It evolved from the forms Sandford to Sanford. The name is characterized by its historical usage in England and America, conveying traits of strength and reliability. There is no significant biblical relevance associated with the name.
The name Sanford is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent 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, Sanford 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, 'Sanford' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 382nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 358th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 516th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 910th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2316th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5826th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6392nd out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Sanford' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Sanford"
Pronunciation
/ˈsæn.fɔrd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Sanford is derived from the Old English elements 'sand' meaning 'sand' and 'ford' meaning 'river crossing'. It originally referred to a sandy river crossing.
Meaning
sandy river crossing
Language Evolution
Sandford, Sanford
Historical Usage
Sanford gained popularity in England during the Middle Ages and later became a common given name in the United States in the 19th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Sandford, Sanford, Sandy
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Sanford is perceived as a traditional and somewhat vintage name, often associated with strength and reliability.
Famous People
Sanford B. Dole - an American lawyer and politician who played a key role in the annexation of Hawaii, Sanford Meisner - an influential American actor and acting teacher
Explore More Sanford Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Sanford"
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 "Sanford"
"Sanford" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 382nd of 7545 | 3,879 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 358th of 6773 | 4,546 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 516th of 7552 | 4,014 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 910th of 10718 | 1,265 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2316th of 16616 | 447 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 5826th of 24088 | 209 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 6392nd of 23106 | 158 |
Regional Popularity of "Sanford" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
23.52% 333rd/1416 |
21.32% 294th/1379 |
17.75% 420th/2366 |
56.04% 640th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
21.60% 334th/1546 |
13.43% 209th/1556 |
20.27% 477th/2353 |
31.67% 490th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
22.05% 491st/2227 |
15.19% 369th/2430 |
19.91% 568th/2853 |
20.76% 576th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
30.88% 907th/2937 |
24.72% 861st/3483 |
25.18% 886th/3518 |
24.68% 998th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
52.13% 1921st/3685 |
59.17% 2648th/4475 |
67.60% 3511th/5194 |
60.06% 3794th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Sanford" 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 "Sanford"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Sanford" 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.