Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1920

Gifford

Meaning Gifford is a masculine given name Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

Gifford is a masculine given name.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Gifford
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1920
40 babies
All-time total
1,452
#4,049 all-time among boys
First recorded
1891
in Social Security records

Gifford popularity over time

1,452 babies have been named Gifford since 1891, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1898Boys

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 19 2 – #835
1900s 21 2 +11% #1,281
1910s 196 20 +833% #939
1920s 281 28 +43% #1,127
1930s 194 19 -31% #1,225
1940s 186 19 -4% #1,311
1950s 190 19 +2% #1,516
1960s 144 14 -24% #1,690
1970s 98 10 -32% #2,889
1980s 80 8 -18% #3,947
1990s 27 3 -66% #6,333
2000s – – – –
2010s 16 2 – #11,229
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Gifford

Gifford 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 1891, 1,452 American babies have been named Gifford. Its peak came in 1920, when 40 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 Gifford stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Gifford?

The median living Gifford is about 63 years old; half are between 49 and 73. An estimated 600 people named Gifford are alive in the United States today.

median 63 020406080100

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

Gifford 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 6 #11,229
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 5 #12,703
2013 5 #12,779
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 7 #7,271
1990 – –
1985 9 #4,451
1980 10 #3,947
1975 9 #3,753
1970 8 #3,626
1965 10 #2,679
1960 22 #1,741
1955 26 #1,516
1950 11 #2,370
1945 15 #1,811
1940 12 #2,118
1935 12 #2,173
1930 22 #1,579
1925 24 #1,548
1920 40 #1,127
1915 25 #1,354
1910 7 #1,356
1905 – –
1900 5 #1,393
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Gifford

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Gifford Pinchot Gifford Pinchot American forester and politician (1865–1946) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Gifford?

The median living Gifford is about 63 years old. Half of all living Giffords are between 49 and 73 years old.

How many people named Gifford are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Gifford are alive in the United States, based on 1,452 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Gifford mean?

Gifford is a masculine given name.

How popular is the name Gifford in 2025?

Gifford 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 Gifford?

1,452 babies have been named Gifford in the United States since 1891, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Gifford most popular?

Gifford peaked in 1920, when 40 newborns received the name.

Is Gifford a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Gifford rising or falling?

Gifford is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Gifford?

Well-known people named Gifford include Gifford Pinchot (politician).

Names like Gifford

Names that sound and feel close to Gifford: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Gifford with similar names → More names starting with G →