Godfrey: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#7,850

among boys · ↑2,393 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Godfrey

How common

1 in 170,808

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1918

71 babies

All-time total

3,245

#2,395 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Godfrey popularity over time

3,245 babies have been named Godfrey since 1880, 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

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	84	8	–	#566
1890s	79	8	-6%	#679
1900s	85	9	+8%	#657
1910s	395	40	+365%	#743
1920s	468	47	+18%	#918
1930s	299	30	-36%	#1,053
1940s	369	37	+23%	#937
1950s	372	37	+1%	#1,147
1960s	269	27	-28%	#1,255
1970s	209	21	-22%	#1,577
1980s	196	20	-6%	#2,226
1990s	166	17	-15%	#2,811
2000s	86	9	-48%	#5,515
2010s	107	11	+24%	#5,565
2020s (to 2025)	61	10	-5%	#6,449

The story of Godfrey

Godfrey is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #7,850 in 2025 with 10 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 3,245 American babies have been named Godfrey. Its peak came in 1918, when 71 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

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 Godfrey stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Godfrey?

The median living Godfrey is about 54 years old; half are between 34 and 70. An estimated 1,500 people named Godfrey 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.

Godfrey year by year

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

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	10	#7,850
2024	7	#10,243
2023	9	#8,476
2022	10	#7,959
2021	13	#6,449
2020	12	#6,756
2019	14	#6,207
2018	10	#7,794
2017	8	#9,129
2016	8	#9,135
2015	6	#11,158
2014	13	#6,421
2013	12	#6,751
2012	16	#5,565
2011	9	#8,300
2010	11	#7,239
2009	5	#13,131
2008	–	–
2007	12	#6,789
2006	8	#8,999
2005	12	#6,360
2004	12	#6,263
2003	8	#8,106
2002	13	#5,515
2001	8	#7,796
2000	8	#7,706
1995	19	#3,474
1990	23	#2,811
1985	23	#2,320
1980	23	#2,241
1975	21	#2,159
1970	23	#1,868
1965	14	#2,211
1960	31	#1,445
1955	39	#1,204
1950	39	#1,147
1945	31	#1,191
1940	37	#1,076
1935	28	#1,281
1930	35	#1,203
1925	48	#990
1920	57	#918
1915	46	#919
1910	11	#1,006
1905	13	#680
1900	10	#867
1895	10	#715
1890	9	#693
1885	10	#617
1880	9	#654

Famous people named Godfrey

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

1 Godfrey of Bouillon Ruler of Jerusalem from 1099 to 1100 1060–1100 · Medieval
2 Godfrey Gao Taiwanese-Malaysian-Canadian model and actor (1984–2019) Contemporary
3 Godfrey Reggio American filmmaker (born 1940) Contemporary
4 Godfrey Binaisa Ugandan President from 1979 to 1980 1920–2010 · Contemporary
5 Godfrey Chitalu Zambian footballer (1947–1993) Contemporary
6 Godfrey Kneller German-born British painter (1646–1723) 17th century
7 Godfrey Rampling British army officer and Olympic medalist (1909–2009) Contemporary
8 Godfrey Hounsfield British electrical engineer (1919–2004) Contemporary
9 Godfrey I, Count of Louvain Count of Louvain (c. 1060–1139) Medieval
10 Godfrey IV, Duke of Lower Lorraine Duke of Lower Lorraine (died 1076) 1100–1076 · Medieval
11 Godfrey II, Count of Louvain Count of Louvain and landgrave of Brabant (c. 1110–1142) Medieval
12 Godfrey III, Count of Louvain Flemish noble 1142–1190 · Medieval
13 Godfrey Oboabona Nigerian footballer (born 1990) Contemporary
14 Godfrey III, Duke of Lower Lorraine Lotharingian nobleman (c. 997–1069) Medieval
15 Godfrey I, Count of Namur Lotharingian nobleman (died 1139) 1068–1139 · Medieval
16 Godfrey II, Duke of Lower Lorraine Duke in the Holy Roman Empire 965–1023 · Medieval
17 Godfrey Brown British sprinter (1915–1995) Contemporary
18 Godfrey Khotso Mokoena South African athlete b. 1985 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Godfrey?

The median living Godfrey is about 54 years old. Half of all living Godfreys are between 34 and 70 years old.

How many people named Godfrey are alive today?

An estimated 1,500 people named Godfrey are alive in the United States, based on 3,245 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Godfrey mean?

Godfrey is a given name and an English surname.

How popular is the name Godfrey in 2025?

Godfrey ranked #7,850 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 10 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Godfrey?

3,245 babies have been named Godfrey in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Godfrey most popular?

Godfrey peaked in 1918, when 71 newborns received the name.

Is Godfrey a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Godfrey rising or falling?

Godfrey has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Godfrey?

Well-known people named Godfrey include Godfrey of Bouillon (politician), Godfrey Gao (model), Godfrey Reggio (film director).

Names like Godfrey

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

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