Fun Facts About the Name Ford
- More than 11 thousand babies named Ford: U.S. records list 11,023 babies given the name Ford from 1880 through 2025. Even 17 girls received the name Ford - about 1 girl for every 647 boys.
What Does the Name Ford Mean?
Ford is an English name taken directly from the word ford: a shallow place in a river or stream where the water can be crossed on foot or by vehicle. The word goes back to Old English ford, which has related forms in other Germanic languages, such as German Furt and Dutch voorde. The literal sense is the crossing place itself, not a quality or an abstract idea.
As a surname, Ford was originally a topographic name for someone who lived by a ford, or a habitational name for someone from one of the many English villages and towns called Ford. The given name is a transferred use of that surname, so its meaning is the same as the word it comes from.
Ford Name History & Origins
The element ford is common in English place names because river crossings were important landmarks, as in Oxford ("ford of the oxen"), Bradford ("broad ford"), and Stratford. The surname Ford belongs to the large group of English surnames drawn from a person's dwelling place or home village, and it is found in medieval English records alongside other names of that type.
Its use as a first name comes mainly from the widespread English-speaking practice of turning surnames into given names, and it is also often given as a middle name to carry on a family surname. Bearers include the American industrialist Henry Ford, the film director John Ford, and the English writer Ford Madox Ford, who was born Ford Hermann Hueffer and later changed his name. In the United States the name is also associated with Gerald Ford, who was born Leslie Lynch King Jr. and took the surname of his stepfather.
How Popular is the Name Ford?
Ford recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2021. Its best rank was #439 in 2021.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | #14,369 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #14,397 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2015 | #17,343 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #474 | 642 | 0.0376% |
| 2024 | #570 | 504 | 0.0294% |
| 2023 | #523 | 564 | 0.0330% |
| 2022 | #473 | 649 | 0.0372% |
| 2021 | #439 | 707 | 0.0404% |
| 2020 | #459 | 647 | 0.0375% |
| 2019 | #562 | 497 | 0.0277% |
| 2018 | #635 | 417 | 0.0230% |
| 2017 | #711 | 344 | 0.0186% |
| 2016 | #714 | 342 | 0.0180% |
| 2015 | #741 | 327 | 0.0171% |
| 2014 | #885 | 245 | 0.0128% |
| 2013 | #1,048 | 183 | 0.0097% |
| 2012 | #1,090 | 171 | 0.0090% |
| 2011 | #1,245 | 139 | 0.0073% |
| 2010 | #1,566 | 101 | 0.0053% |
| 2009 | #1,673 | 94 | 0.0047% |
| 2008 | #1,744 | 87 | 0.0043% |
| 2007 | #2,075 | 66 | 0.0032% |
| 2006 | #1,631 | 88 | 0.0043% |
| 2005 | #2,015 | 62 | 0.0031% |
| 2004 | #2,802 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 2003 | #2,084 | 54 | 0.0027% |
| 2002 | #2,312 | 45 | 0.0023% |
| 2001 | #2,396 | 41 | 0.0021% |
| 2000 | #1,975 | 52 | 0.0026% |
| 1999 | #2,483 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 1998 | #2,472 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 1997 | #1,897 | 49 | 0.0026% |
| 1996 | #2,265 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 1995 | #2,226 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 1994 | #2,139 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 1993 | #2,656 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1992 | #2,562 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1991 | #2,628 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1990 | #3,212 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1989 | #2,818 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1988 | #2,394 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1987 | #2,662 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1986 | #3,045 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1985 | #2,871 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1984 | #2,735 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1983 | #2,832 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1982 | #4,036 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1981 | #3,090 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1980 | #3,480 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1979 | #2,187 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1978 | #3,478 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #3,944 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #2,745 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1975 | #2,676 | 15 | 0.0010% |
| 1974 | #4,841 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #2,156 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1972 | #3,031 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1971 | #2,079 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1970 | #1,670 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1969 | #1,617 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1968 | #1,709 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1967 | #1,677 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 1966 | #1,551 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1965 | #1,464 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1964 | #2,062 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1963 | #1,436 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1962 | #1,437 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1961 | #1,417 | 32 | 0.0015% |
| 1960 | #1,324 | 36 | 0.0017% |
| 1959 | #1,124 | 48 | 0.0022% |
| 1958 | #1,268 | 37 | 0.0017% |
| 1957 | #1,204 | 42 | 0.0019% |
| 1956 | #1,178 | 42 | 0.0020% |
| 1955 | #1,515 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1954 | #1,071 | 49 | 0.0024% |
| 1953 | #1,112 | 44 | 0.0022% |
| 1952 | #1,201 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 1951 | #985 | 51 | 0.0027% |
| 1950 | #1,109 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 1949 | #1,035 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 1948 | #1,050 | 45 | 0.0026% |
| 1947 | #882 | 63 | 0.0034% |
| 1946 | #991 | 47 | 0.0029% |
| 1945 | #1,044 | 38 | 0.0028% |
| 1944 | #923 | 48 | 0.0035% |
| 1943 | #1,066 | 41 | 0.0029% |
| 1942 | #1,042 | 42 | 0.0030% |
| 1941 | #945 | 46 | 0.0037% |
| 1940 | #1,257 | 29 | 0.0025% |
| 1939 | #961 | 43 | 0.0039% |
| 1938 | #1,115 | 34 | 0.0031% |
| 1937 | #1,154 | 33 | 0.0031% |
| 1936 | #1,233 | 29 | 0.0028% |
| 1935 | #1,106 | 35 | 0.0034% |
| 1934 | #1,154 | 33 | 0.0032% |
| 1933 | #1,169 | 32 | 0.0032% |
| 1932 | #1,185 | 33 | 0.0032% |
| 1931 | #1,177 | 34 | 0.0033% |
| 1930 | #994 | 47 | 0.0043% |
| 1929 | #946 | 51 | 0.0047% |
| 1928 | #967 | 50 | 0.0045% |
| 1927 | #852 | 63 | 0.0056% |
| 1926 | #772 | 71 | 0.0064% |
| 1925 | #687 | 88 | 0.0079% |
| 1924 | #774 | 76 | 0.0067% |
| 1923 | #588 | 115 | 0.0105% |
| 1922 | #700 | 87 | 0.0080% |
| 1921 | #745 | 79 | 0.0072% |
| 1920 | #916 | 57 | 0.0054% |
| 1919 | #708 | 79 | 0.0081% |
| 1918 | #766 | 72 | 0.0071% |
| 1917 | #610 | 95 | 0.0103% |
| 1916 | #572 | 101 | 0.0113% |
| 1915 | #483 | 133 | 0.0157% |
| 1914 | #594 | 72 | 0.0110% |
| 1913 | #621 | 51 | 0.0099% |
| 1912 | #524 | 57 | 0.0133% |
| 1911 | #771 | 18 | 0.0080% |
| 1910 | #765 | 16 | 0.0082% |
| 1909 | #695 | 16 | 0.0098% |
| 1908 | #527 | 23 | 0.0149% |
| 1907 | #952 | 9 | 0.0061% |
| 1906 | #689 | 13 | 0.0098% |
| 1905 | #717 | 12 | 0.0091% |
| 1904 | #833 | 9 | 0.0070% |
| 1903 | #812 | 9 | 0.0075% |
| 1902 | #622 | 13 | 0.0106% |
| 1901 | #889 | 7 | 0.0066% |
| 1900 | #473 | 24 | 0.0159% |
| 1899 | #633 | 11 | 0.0104% |
| 1898 | #772 | 9 | 0.0073% |
| 1897 | #698 | 10 | 0.0089% |
| 1896 | #690 | 11 | 0.0092% |
| 1895 | #820 | 8 | 0.0068% |
| 1894 | #577 | 13 | 0.0112% |
| 1893 | #551 | 13 | 0.0116% |
| 1892 | #615 | 12 | 0.0098% |
| 1891 | #572 | 11 | 0.0109% |
| 1890 | #442 | 17 | 0.0153% |
| 1889 | #487 | 15 | 0.0136% |
| 1888 | #775 | 8 | 0.0066% |
| 1887 | #606 | 10 | 0.0099% |
| 1886 | #888 | 6 | 0.0054% |
| 1885 | #664 | 9 | 0.0083% |
| 1883 | #696 | 8 | 0.0076% |
| 1882 | #788 | 7 | 0.0062% |
| 1881 | #543 | 11 | 0.0109% |
| 1880 | #706 | 8 | 0.0072% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Ford Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are kind, home-loving, hospitable and friendly. Since you take responsibility well, you are a good organizer of social affairs. Compassion for others is an outstanding trait. You are a great lover and a great flirt – an artist, musician, actor, teacher, nurse. Your character can be contradictory. You are practical, yet idealistic and intuitive; capable of selfless devotion to someone you love, yet look to receive payback. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Ford's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ford's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.