Ford Boy

Popularity: #432 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ford //fɔrd//

Origin: English; Old English

Meaning: river crossing; ford

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Ford has its roots in Old English, derived from the word "forda," which means a shallow place in a river or stream where one can cross. This term can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic *furthō, which also relates to the Old Norse "fjorðr" and the Dutch "voorde." The transition into the English language occurred during the early medieval period, as Old English evolved into Middle English, with the name Ford being used both as a surname and a given name.

Historically, the name Ford appears in various records throughout the Middle Ages, often associated with geographical locations, as many surnames were derived from the names of places. Notably, the name is linked to several English locations named Ford, which were often situated near river crossings.

The use of Ford as a surname became more prominent in the 13th century, with individuals bearing the name appearing in historical documents and land grants. The name also appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, indicating its early significance in English society.

Culturally, the name Ford carries connotations of strength and stability, reflecting the practical importance of river crossings in medieval life. It symbolizes a connection to nature and the landscape, as well as the journey and transition, which are central themes in many cultures.

The name has also been associated with notable figures throughout history, including various local leaders and landowners in England. A diminutive form, such as "Forde," has also been used historically, though it is less common.

Overall, the name Ford has maintained its relevance through its historical roots and cultural significance.

Fictional characters named Ford

The following list of fictional characters named Ford is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Ford Prefect is a fictional character from the book series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He is a researcher for the titular guide and a friend of the protagonist Arthur Dent.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Ford, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

GrantBlakeReedColeTateJett

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Ford. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

FloydGordyLloydWardHoltTroyBrockClyde

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Ford was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Ford has ranked as high as #884 nationally, which occurred in 2021, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Michigan, Georgia, and North Carolina.

In the past 5 years the name Ford has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Ford is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Ford was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Ford.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 642 642 0
2024 507 507 0
2023 564 564 0
2022 649 649 0
2021 707 707 0
2020 647 647 0
2019 503 497 6
2018 423 417 6
2017 344 344 0
2016 342 342 0
2015 332 327 5
2014 245 245 0
2013 183 183 0
2012 171 171 0
2011 139 139 0
2010 101 101 0
2009 94 94 0
2008 87 87 0
2007 66 66 0
2006 88 88 0
2005 62 62 0
2004 37 37 0
2003 54 54 0
2002 45 45 0
2001 41 41 0
2000 52 52 0
1999 36 36 0
1998 35 35 0
1997 49 49 0
1996 36 36 0
1995 36 36 0
1994 38 38 0
1993 27 27 0
1992 28 28 0
1991 26 26 0
1990 19 19 0
1989 22 22 0
1988 25 25 0
1987 20 20 0
1986 16 16 0
1985 17 17 0
1984 17 17 0
1983 16 16 0
1982 10 10 0
1981 14 14 0
1980 12 12 0
1979 23 23 0
1978 11 11 0
1977 9 9 0
1976 15 15 0
1975 15 15 0
1974 6 6 0
1973 19 19 0
1972 11 11 0
1971 20 20 0
1970 27 27 0
1969 26 26 0
1968 22 22 0
1967 22 22 0
1966 25 25 0
1965 28 28 0
1964 16 16 0
1963 30 30 0
1962 30 30 0
1961 32 32 0
1960 36 36 0
1959 48 48 0
1958 37 37 0
1957 42 42 0
1956 42 42 0
1955 26 26 0
1954 49 49 0
1953 44 44 0
1952 38 38 0
1951 51 51 0
1950 41 41 0
1949 46 46 0
1948 45 45 0
1947 63 63 0
1946 47 47 0
1945 38 38 0
1944 48 48 0
1943 41 41 0
1942 42 42 0
1941 46 46 0
1940 29 29 0
1939 43 43 0
1938 34 34 0
1937 33 33 0
1936 29 29 0
1935 35 35 0
1934 33 33 0
1933 32 32 0
1932 33 33 0
1931 34 34 0
1930 47 47 0
1929 51 51 0
1928 50 50 0
1927 63 63 0
1926 71 71 0
1925 88 88 0
1924 76 76 0
1923 115 115 0
1922 87 87 0
1921 79 79 0
1920 57 57 0
1919 79 79 0
1918 72 72 0
1917 95 95 0
1916 101 101 0
1915 133 133 0
1914 72 72 0
1913 51 51 0
1912 57 57 0
1911 18 18 0
1910 16 16 0
1909 16 16 0
1908 23 23 0
1907 9 9 0
1906 13 13 0
1905 12 12 0
1904 9 9 0
1903 9 9 0
1902 13 13 0
1901 7 7 0
1900 24 24 0
1899 11 11 0
1898 9 9 0
1897 10 10 0
1896 11 11 0
1895 8 8 0
1894 13 13 0
1893 13 13 0
1892 12 12 0
1891 11 11 0
1890 17 17 0
1889 15 15 0
1888 8 8 0
1887 10 10 0
1886 6 6 0
1885 9 9 0
1883 8 8 0
1882 7 7 0
1881 11 11 0
1880 8 8 0

Top States for Ford (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 55
12%
TX 46
10%
GA 27
6%
IL 26
6%
FL 21
5%
NC 21
5%
AZ 21
5%
OH 20
4%
CO 18
4%
PA 18
4%
UT 17
4%
MI 16
3%
TN 16
3%
NY 14
3%
IN 13
3%
MO 11
2%
MN 10
2%
MA 9
2%
NJ 9
2%
WA 8
2%
VA 8
2%
OR 7
2%
SC 7
2%
ID 7
2%
CT 5
1%
MD 5
1%
IA 5
1%
AL 5
1%
AR 5
1%
NV 5
1%
KS 5
1%