Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1921

Milford

Meaning Milford is a surname and a masculine given name Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

Milford is a surname and a masculine given name.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Milford
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1921
234 babies
All-time total
8,211
#1,355 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Milford popularity over time

8,211 babies have been named Milford 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
0.080.150.230.318801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
BoysGirls

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 Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – 93 93 9 – #464
1890s – 133 133 13 +43% #473
1900s – 226 226 23 +70% #375
1910s – 1,487 1,487 149 +558% #370
1920s 7 2,172 2,179 218 +47% #391
1930s 6 1,472 1,478 148 -32% #444
1940s – 1,131 1,131 113 -23% #498
1950s – 701 701 70 -38% #756
1960s – 415 415 42 -41% #935
1970s – 211 211 21 -49% #1,648
1980s – 110 110 11 -48% #2,805
1990s – 35 35 4 -68% #4,768
2000s – 6 6 1 -83% #9,904
2010s – – – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – 6 6 1 – #11,789

The story of Milford

Milford 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, 8,211 American babies have been named Milford. Its peak came in 1921, when 234 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 Milford stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Milford?

The median living Milford is about 72 years old; half are between 61 and 81. An estimated 2,000 people named Milford are alive in the United States today.

median 72 020406080100

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

Milford year by year

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

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 – – 6 #11,789
2022 – – – –
2021 – – – –
2020 – – – –
2019 – – – –
2018 – – – –
2017 – – – –
2016 – – – –
2015 – – – –
2014 – – – –
2013 – – – –
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 – – – –
2007 – – – –
2006 – – – –
2005 – – – –
2004 – – – –
2003 – – – –
2002 – – – –
2001 – – – –
2000 – – 6 #9,904
1995 – – – –
1990 – – 11 #4,890
1985 – – 14 #3,332
1980 – – 17 #2,805
1975 – – 22 #2,107
1970 – – 28 #1,648
1965 – – 42 #1,180
1960 – – 51 #1,091
1955 – – 74 #860
1950 – – 83 #756
1945 – – 114 #565
1940 – – 137 #498
1935 6 #4,083 148 #468
1930 – – 172 #454
1925 – – 234 #391
1920 – – 229 #392
1915 – – 195 #386
1910 – – 33 #490
1905 – – 21 #502
1900 – – 22 #504
1895 – – 15 #547
1890 – – 12 #589
1885 – – 9 #679
1880 – – 6 #879

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Milford?

The median living Milford is about 72 years old. Half of all living Milfords are between 61 and 81 years old.

How many people named Milford are alive today?

An estimated 2,000 people named Milford are alive in the United States, based on 8,211 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Milford mean?

Milford is a surname and a masculine given name.

How popular is the name Milford in 2025?

Milford 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 Milford?

8,211 babies have been named Milford in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Milford most popular?

Milford peaked in 1921, when 234 newborns received the name.

Is Milford a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Milford rising or falling?

Milford is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Milford

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

Compare Milford with similar names → More names starting with M →