Wilford

At a Glance: Name: Wilford – Meaning: willow ford — a river crossing lined with willow trees – Origin: Old English (place name) – Gender: used for both boys and girls

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Wilford is an Old English place name that literally describes a spot on the land: a willow ford, where a river could be crossed near a stand of willow trees. It's a name rooted in geography rather than in an abstract quality or virtue. If you want a name with a plain, literal picture behind it, this is about as concrete as that gets.

Meaning & Origin of Wilford

Meaning: Willow ford — a river crossing lined with willow trees.

Origin: Old English (place name).

Source: Wiktionary.

Popularity of Wilford

Wilford peaked in 1911, when 69 baby boys were given the name, but has fallen sharply since — by 2024 it ranked #14116 with just 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security data covering 1880 to 2024.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Wilford Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Wilford, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Willson
• Winson
• Veron
• Hellena
• Gem
• Felipa

FAQ

What does the name Wilford mean?

Willow ford — a river crossing lined with willow trees. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Wilford)

Is Wilford a popular name right now?

Wilford peaked at #333 in 1911 and is ranked #14116 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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