Milford Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MIL-ford /ˈmɪl.fɔrd/
Origin: English; Old English
Meaning: Old English: 'ford by a mill'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Milford has its roots in Old English, deriving from the elements "mil" meaning "mill" and "ford" meaning "river crossing" or "ford." This etymology suggests a geographical significance, likely referring to a settlement near a mill by a river crossing. The name entered the English language through the combination of these two elements, reflecting the importance of mills in medieval society as centers of commerce and community life.
Historically, the name Milford can be traced back to various locations in England, particularly in the medieval period. The earliest recorded instances of the name appear in place names, with references to settlements that were often associated with mills and river crossings.
Such locations were vital for trade and transportation, making the name significant in the context of local geography. Over the centuries, the name has been associated with various historical figures and places, contributing to its recognition in English-speaking regions.
Culturally, the name Milford carries connotations of industriousness and community, reflecting the historical importance of mills in agricultural societies. The name has been used in literature and historical texts, often symbolizing a connection to the pastoral and agrarian lifestyle of earlier centuries.
While there are no widely recognized diminutive forms of Milford, its phonetic structure lends itself to affectionate variations in informal contexts. Overall, the name encapsulates a blend of historical significance and cultural resonance, rooted in the landscape of medieval England.
Famous people named Milford
In this section, you will find notable people named Milford. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Milford who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Milford who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Milford Graves is a percussionist and educator best known for his work in free jazz and as a member of the band The New York Art Quartet.
Milford Sound is a natural attraction in New Zealand known for its stunning fjords and scenic beauty.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Milford, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Milford. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Milford was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Milford has ranked as high as #661 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in Alabama, New York, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Kentucky.
In the past 5 years the name Milford has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Milford 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 Milford was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Milford (1966)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NC | 6 |
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 Milford.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 1994 | 6 |
| 1992 | 12 |
| 1991 | 6 |
| 1990 | 11 |
| 1989 | 8 |
| 1988 | 6 |
| 1987 | 11 |
| 1986 | 8 |
| 1985 | 14 |
| 1984 | 7 |
| 1983 | 9 |
| 1982 | 15 |
| 1981 | 15 |
| 1980 | 17 |
| 1979 | 17 |
| 1978 | 10 |
| 1977 | 19 |
| 1976 | 26 |
| 1975 | 22 |
| 1974 | 19 |
| 1973 | 25 |
| 1972 | 23 |
| 1971 | 22 |
| 1970 | 28 |
| 1969 | 28 |
| 1968 | 41 |
| 1967 | 32 |
| 1966 | 26 |
| 1965 | 42 |
| 1964 | 38 |
| 1963 | 44 |
| 1962 | 46 |
| 1961 | 67 |
| 1960 | 51 |
| 1959 | 52 |
| 1958 | 61 |
| 1957 | 50 |
| 1956 | 74 |
| 1955 | 74 |
| 1954 | 67 |
| 1953 | 82 |
| 1952 | 80 |
| 1951 | 78 |
| 1950 | 83 |
| 1949 | 104 |
| 1948 | 107 |
| 1947 | 102 |
| 1946 | 105 |
| 1945 | 114 |
| 1944 | 111 |
| 1943 | 131 |
| 1942 | 111 |
| 1941 | 109 |
| 1940 | 137 |
| 1939 | 119 |
| 1938 | 141 |
| 1937 | 143 |
| 1936 | 133 |
| 1935 | 148 |
| 1934 | 150 |
| 1933 | 156 |
| 1932 | 151 |
| 1931 | 159 |
| 1930 | 172 |
| 1929 | 185 |
| 1928 | 201 |
| 1927 | 194 |
| 1926 | 212 |
| 1925 | 234 |
| 1924 | 233 |
| 1923 | 223 |
| 1922 | 227 |
| 1921 | 234 |
| 1920 | 229 |
| 1919 | 205 |
| 1918 | 214 |
| 1917 | 230 |
| 1916 | 196 |
| 1915 | 195 |
| 1914 | 131 |
| 1913 | 128 |
| 1912 | 99 |
| 1911 | 56 |
| 1910 | 33 |
| 1909 | 33 |
| 1908 | 25 |
| 1907 | 28 |
| 1906 | 25 |
| 1905 | 21 |
| 1904 | 30 |
| 1903 | 13 |
| 1902 | 18 |
| 1901 | 11 |
| 1900 | 22 |
| 1899 | 12 |
| 1898 | 12 |
| 1897 | 10 |
| 1896 | 19 |
| 1895 | 15 |
| 1894 | 17 |
| 1893 | 13 |
| 1892 | 18 |
| 1891 | 5 |
| 1890 | 12 |
| 1889 | 8 |
| 1888 | 9 |
| 1887 | 6 |
| 1886 | 16 |
| 1885 | 9 |
| 1884 | 11 |
| 1883 | 11 |
| 1882 | 8 |
| 1881 | 9 |
| 1880 | 6 |