Wilford Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Wilford is an Old English name that means 'desire by the river crossing'. It has evolved through various forms over time and is associated with traits of tradition and stability. The name has no biblical relevance and gained popularity in the 19th century. Notable people with this name include Wilford Brimley and Wilford H. Sweeney.
The name Wilford is most popular in Utah, 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. 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, Wilford 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, 'Wilford' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 380th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 458th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 727th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1297th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3087th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7649th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 9453rd out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 9107th out of 9107 names. Discover how the name 'Wilford' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Wilford"
Pronunciation
/ˈwɪl.fərd/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Wilford is derived from the Old English elements 'willa', meaning 'will' or 'desire', and 'ford', meaning 'river crossing'. Thus, it can be interpreted to mean 'desire by the river crossing'.
Meaning
desire by the river crossing
Language Evolution
Wilfard, Wilford, Wilfurd
Historical Usage
The name Wilford gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a given name and surname.
Variants & Derivatives
Wilf, Will, Wilforde
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Wilford is considered a classic name that conveys a sense of tradition and stability, though it is less common in modern times.
Famous People
Wilford Brimley, Wilford H. Sweeney
Explore More Wilford Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Wilford"
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 "Wilford"
"Wilford" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 380th of 7545 | 3,948 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 458th of 6773 | 2,985 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 727th of 7552 | 1,917 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1297th of 10718 | 681 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3087th of 16616 | 295 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 7649th of 24088 | 139 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 9453rd of 23106 | 83 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 9107th of 9107 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Wilford" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
21.33% 302nd/1416 |
33.65% 464th/1379 |
14.84% 351st/2366 |
26.62% 304th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
28.40% 439th/1546 |
39.07% 608th/1556 |
17.13% 403rd/2353 |
31.93% 494th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
36.91% 822nd/2227 |
45.56% 1107th/2430 |
22.43% 640th/2853 |
30.02% 833rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
58.86% 2050th/3483 |
35.33% 1243rd/3518 |
46.79% 1892nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
56.72% 2946th/5194 |
60.06% 3794th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Wilford" 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 "Wilford"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Wilford" 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.