Stafford Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Stafford is an Old English name meaning 'river crossing marked by a staff'. It evolved from 'Staford' in Old English through Middle English to its current form. The name carries historical significance linked to the town of Stafford, reflecting traits of tradition and nobility. There is no direct biblical relevance.
The name Stafford is most popular in Louisiana, 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, Stafford 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, 'Stafford' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1261st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1364th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1183rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1779th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3002nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6940th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6091st out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Stafford' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Stafford"
Pronunciation
/ˈstæfərd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Stafford derives from the Old English elements 'staef', meaning 'staff', and 'ford', meaning 'river crossing'. It originally referred to a river crossing marked by a staff.
Meaning
river crossing marked by a staff
Language Evolution
Staford (Old English), Stafford (Middle English), Stafford (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in England particularly after the establishment of the town of Stafford in the 10th century, which became an important market and administrative center.
Variants & Derivatives
Stafforde, Staffordshire, Staff
Modern Popularity & Image
Stafford is perceived as a traditional and dignified name, often associated with nobility and historical significance in England.
Famous People
Stafford Cripps, a British politician, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, a dog breed named after the region
Explore More Stafford Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Stafford"
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 "Stafford"
"Stafford" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1261st of 7545 | 521 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1364th of 6773 | 459 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1183rd of 7552 | 777 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1779th of 10718 | 408 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3002nd of 16616 | 308 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6940th of 24088 | 161 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 6091st of 23106 | 170 |
Regional Popularity of "Stafford" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
45.10% 1067th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
78.86% 1227th/1556 |
46.54% 1095th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
55.73% 1241st/2227 |
56.09% 1363rd/2430 |
38.14% 1088th/2853 |
60.61% 1682nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
38.83% 1366th/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 "Stafford" 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 "Stafford"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Stafford" 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.