Fun Facts About the Name Rockford
- 709 babies named Rockford: U.S. records list 709 babies given the name Rockford from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Rockford Mean?
Rockford is an English habitational name meaning 'rook's ford' or 'ford by a rock,' depending on which place-name lies behind it. It is formed from Old English hrōc 'rook' or rocc 'rock' plus ford 'ford, a shallow crossing place.' Because the two first elements could produce the same modern spelling, the exact sense is not always certain and may differ from one place named Rockford to another.
Rockford Name History & Origins
The place-name Rockford is formed from Old English elements. A Hampshire place of this name is recorded in Domesday Book as Rocheford, and later medieval spellings vary. The second element is ford, a crossing place; the first is disputed, explained both as hrōc 'rook' and as rocc 'rock.' The Hampshire place is often linked to the 'rook' sense, while other places called Rockford may have the 'rock' sense.
The surname Rockford is habitational, taken from one or more of these places. Because several English places share the name, the surname could arise independently in different families. As a first name, Rockford is a transferred use of the surname, employed mainly for boys. The name is familiar from the American television series The Rockford Files (1974 - 1980), in which James Garner played the private investigator Jim Rockford; the title uses the character's surname and is not the source of the name.
How Popular is the Name Rockford?
Rockford has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1979. Its best rank was #1,878 in 1956.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,114 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #12,011 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2023 | #9,559 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #7,155 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2021 | #6,597 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2020 | #8,583 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2019 | #6,340 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #5,265 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2017 | #8,012 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #6,281 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #5,016 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2014 | #8,648 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #6,541 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2012 | #10,530 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #6,921 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #5,974 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #12,166 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #10,784 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #9,389 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #7,539 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #10,598 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #6,834 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2000 | #11,771 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #9,398 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #10,488 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #7,802 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #8,660 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #8,482 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #7,239 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #6,783 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #8,253 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1987 | #4,878 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #7,594 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1985 | #4,281 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #4,482 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1983 | #5,360 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #3,074 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1981 | #3,377 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1980 | #3,571 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1979 | #2,447 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1978 | #3,190 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1977 | #2,882 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1976 | #3,438 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1975 | #4,224 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1974 | #5,838 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #2,329 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1965 | #2,945 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #3,238 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #4,512 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1962 | #3,571 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #2,868 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #2,190 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1959 | #1,904 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1958 | #2,480 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1957 | #2,610 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1956 | #1,878 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1955 | #2,937 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #2,415 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1953 | #2,167 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1952 | #2,647 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #2,474 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #2,733 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #2,764 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1948 | #2,424 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1947 | #3,316 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1946 | #2,251 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1945 | #2,950 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1943 | #3,950 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1920 | #4,191 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1919 | #4,082 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1918 | #4,687 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1917 | #3,898 | 6 | 0.0006% |
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 Rockford Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Rockford's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Rockford's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.