Stanford Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Stanford is an Old English name meaning 'stone ford', indicating a river crossing. It evolved from 'Staneford' to its current form. The name is associated with traits of intelligence and ambition, particularly due to the historical significance of Stanford University. There is no biblical relevance linked to this name.
The name Stanford is most popular in Hawaii, 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, Stanford 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, 'Stanford' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 639th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 627th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 691st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 989th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1747th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4523rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5945th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Stanford' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Stanford"
Pronunciation
/ˈstænfərd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Stanford is derived from the Old English elements 'stan', meaning 'stone', and 'ford', meaning 'river crossing'. It refers to a river crossing by a stone or a place where stones are used to facilitate crossing.
Meaning
stone ford
Language Evolution
Staneford, Stanford
Historical Usage
The name Stanford gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly due to the establishment of Stanford University in California in 1885, which was named after Leland Stanford.
Variants & Derivatives
Stan, Stanly, Stanny
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Stanford is often associated with academic excellence and innovation due to the prestigious university. It conveys a sense of intelligence and ambition.
Famous People
Leland Stanford, Jane Stanford, Stanford Law School alumni
Explore More Stanford Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Stanford"
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 "Stanford"
"Stanford" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 639th of 7545 | 1,574 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 627th of 6773 | 1,716 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 691st of 7552 | 2,149 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 989th of 10718 | 1,065 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1747th of 16616 | 681 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4523rd of 24088 | 301 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 5945th of 23106 | 176 |
Regional Popularity of "Stanford" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
46.68% 661st/1416 |
37.42% 516th/1379 |
38.12% 902nd/2366 |
48.60% 555th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
36.48% 564th/1546 |
30.21% 470th/1556 |
40.08% 943rd/2353 |
36.26% 561st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
30.18% 672nd/2227 |
28.52% 693rd/2430 |
28.08% 801st/2853 |
22.67% 629th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
37.45% 1100th/2937 |
47.80% 1665th/3483 |
28.79% 1013th/3518 |
27.87% 1127th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
49.44% 1822nd/3685 |
61.74% 2763rd/4475 |
44.86% 2330th/5194 |
37.53% 2371st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Stanford" 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 "Stanford"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Stanford" 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.