Benford: 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	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	44	4	–	#2,436
1920s	80	8	+82%	#2,404
1930s	53	5	-34%	#2,405
1940s	79	8	+49%	#2,215
1950s	52	5	-34%	#2,989
1960s	36	4	-31%	#2,484
1970s	17	2	-53%	#4,434
1980s	5	1	-71%	#7,394
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Boys

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#2,436

1920s

+82%

#2,404

1930s

-34%

#2,405

1940s

+49%

#2,215

1950s

-34%

#2,989

1960s

-31%

#2,484

1970s

-53%

#4,434

1980s

-71%

#7,394

1990s

–

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Benford

Benford 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 1915, 366 American babies have been named Benford. Its peak came in 1927, when 12 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 Benford stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Benford?

The median living Benford is about 69 years old; half are between 59 and 79. An estimated 100 people named Benford 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.

Benford 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	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	5	#5,552
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	5	#4,080
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	6	#3,015
1940	7	#2,899
1935	10	#2,405
1930	6	#3,626
1925	11	#2,607
1920	5	#4,351
1915	6	#3,434
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Benford?

The median living Benford is about 69 years old. Half of all living Benfords are between 59 and 79 years old.

How many people named Benford are alive today?

An estimated 100 people named Benford are alive in the United States, based on 366 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Benford in 2025?

Benford 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 Benford?

366 babies have been named Benford in the United States since 1915, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Benford most popular?

Benford peaked in 1927, when 12 newborns received the name.

Is Benford a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Benford rising or falling?

Benford has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Benford

Benford popularity over time

The story of Benford

How old are people named Benford?

Benford year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Benford