Stafford Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: STAF-erd //ˈstæf.ərd//
Origin: English; Old English
Meaning: English: 'ford by a staff' or 'landing place for a boat'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Stafford has its roots in Old English, derived from the elements "staf," meaning "staff" or "post," and "ford," meaning "river crossing." This etymology suggests a geographical significance, likely referring to a place where a river could be crossed with the aid of a staff or pole. The name is historically associated with various locations in England, particularly the town of Stafford in Staffordshire, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Staford." This early documentation highlights the name's connection to both a specific locality and its linguistic origins.
Throughout the medieval period, the name Stafford became associated with notable figures, including the Stafford family, who were prominent in English history. The family produced several earls and dukes, with significant influence during the 15th and 16th centuries.
One of the most notable members was Humphrey Stafford, the Duke of Buckingham, who played a crucial role during the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century. The family's prominence contributed to the name's recognition and usage among the English nobility.
Culturally, the name Stafford has been imbued with connotations of strength and stability, reflective of its literal meaning related to crossing points and support. The name has also been associated with various historical events and figures, lending it a sense of legacy and tradition.
In addition to its use as a surname, Stafford has appeared as a given name, often in honor of familial or regional ties. The diminutive form "Staff" may also be encountered, though its usage is less common.
Overall, the name Stafford carries a rich historical and cultural significance, rooted in its geographic and familial connections.
Famous people named Stafford
In this section, you will find notable people named Stafford. 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 Stafford who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Stafford 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.
Stafford H. Northcutt is a physicist best known for his work in the field of optics and laser technology.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Stafford, 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 Stafford. 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 Stafford was first seen in the United States in 1882.
Stafford has ranked as high as #1080 nationally, which occurred in 1959, and has been most popular in Louisiana, Virginia, New York, Georgia, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Stafford has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Stafford 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 Stafford was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Stafford (1990)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| GA | 5 |
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 Stafford.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2018 | 16 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2013 | 20 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2000 | 17 |
| 1999 | 8 |
| 1998 | 13 |
| 1997 | 15 |
| 1996 | 16 |
| 1995 | 18 |
| 1994 | 20 |
| 1993 | 15 |
| 1992 | 20 |
| 1991 | 24 |
| 1990 | 19 |
| 1989 | 15 |
| 1988 | 29 |
| 1987 | 26 |
| 1986 | 14 |
| 1985 | 18 |
| 1984 | 21 |
| 1983 | 19 |
| 1982 | 16 |
| 1981 | 18 |
| 1980 | 12 |
| 1979 | 17 |
| 1978 | 14 |
| 1977 | 16 |
| 1976 | 16 |
| 1975 | 28 |
| 1974 | 17 |
| 1973 | 20 |
| 1972 | 18 |
| 1971 | 25 |
| 1970 | 42 |
| 1969 | 46 |
| 1968 | 25 |
| 1967 | 27 |
| 1966 | 43 |
| 1965 | 42 |
| 1964 | 48 |
| 1963 | 37 |
| 1962 | 41 |
| 1961 | 46 |
| 1960 | 43 |
| 1959 | 53 |
| 1958 | 33 |
| 1957 | 42 |
| 1956 | 50 |
| 1955 | 32 |
| 1954 | 44 |
| 1953 | 40 |
| 1952 | 42 |
| 1951 | 41 |
| 1950 | 42 |
| 1949 | 37 |
| 1948 | 44 |
| 1947 | 33 |
| 1946 | 29 |
| 1945 | 28 |
| 1944 | 31 |
| 1943 | 25 |
| 1942 | 41 |
| 1941 | 18 |
| 1940 | 19 |
| 1939 | 26 |
| 1938 | 18 |
| 1937 | 26 |
| 1936 | 12 |
| 1935 | 42 |
| 1934 | 18 |
| 1933 | 25 |
| 1932 | 27 |
| 1931 | 26 |
| 1930 | 28 |
| 1929 | 27 |
| 1928 | 22 |
| 1927 | 28 |
| 1926 | 28 |
| 1925 | 31 |
| 1924 | 29 |
| 1923 | 30 |
| 1922 | 30 |
| 1921 | 35 |
| 1920 | 35 |
| 1919 | 39 |
| 1918 | 43 |
| 1917 | 30 |
| 1916 | 29 |
| 1915 | 21 |
| 1914 | 20 |
| 1913 | 22 |
| 1912 | 21 |
| 1911 | 9 |
| 1910 | 10 |
| 1907 | 7 |
| 1905 | 6 |
| 1903 | 6 |
| 1902 | 5 |
| 1901 | 7 |
| 1889 | 6 |
| 1884 | 7 |
| 1882 | 5 |