Bedford: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	49	5	–	#692
1890s	29	3	-41%	#870
1900s	54	5	+86%	#962
1910s	181	18	+235%	#1,102
1920s	305	31	+69%	#1,119
1930s	201	20	-34%	#1,325
1940s	158	16	-21%	#1,522
1950s	122	12	-23%	#1,669
1960s	82	8	-33%	#2,637
1970s	24	2	-71%	#3,734
1980s	20	2	-17%	#6,342
1990s	5	1	-75%	#8,334
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	5	1	–	#12,389
2020s (to 2025)	5	1	+67%	#12,593

Decade

Boys

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

#692

1890s

-41%

#870

1900s

+86%

#962

1910s

181

+235%

#1,102

1920s

305

+69%

#1,119

1930s

201

-34%

#1,325

1940s

158

-21%

#1,522

1950s

122

-23%

#1,669

1960s

-33%

#2,637

1970s

-71%

#3,734

1980s

-17%

#6,342

1990s

-75%

#8,334

2000s

–

2010s

–

#12,389

2020s (to 2025)

+67%

#12,593

The story of Bedford

Bedford is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1880, 1,240 American babies have been named Bedford. Its peak came in 1924, when 41 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Bedford stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Bedford?

The median living Bedford is about 71 years old; half are between 59 and 80. An estimated 300 people named Bedford are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Bedford year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	5	#12,593
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	5	#12,389
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	5	#6,618
1980	5	#6,342
1975	5	#5,549
1970	–	–
1965	8	#3,007
1960	7	#3,367
1955	20	#1,730
1950	12	#2,218
1945	16	#1,702
1940	20	#1,522
1935	23	#1,424
1930	24	#1,497
1925	30	#1,335
1920	30	#1,326
1915	29	#1,218
1910	6	#1,436
1905	6	#1,104
1900	–	–
1895	6	#989
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	7	#751

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Bedford, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Bedford?

The median living Bedford is about 71 years old. Half of all living Bedfords are between 59 and 80 years old.

How many people named Bedford are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Bedford are alive in the United States, based on 1,240 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Bedford in 2025?

Bedford did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Bedford?

1,240 babies have been named Bedford in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Bedford most popular?

Bedford peaked in 1924, when 41 newborns received the name.

Is Bedford a boy or girl name?

Bedford is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Bedford rising or falling?

Bedford has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Bedford

Bedford popularity over time

The story of Bedford

How old are people named Bedford?

Bedford year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Bedford