Sanford: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#7,113

among boys · ↑78 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Sanford

How common

1 in 142,340

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1929

315 babies

All-time total

15,044

#970 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Sanford popularity over time

15,044 babies have been named Sanford 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	252	25	–	#304
1890s	240	24	-5%	#332
1900s	294	29	+22%	#357
1910s	1,522	152	+418%	#357
1920s	2,694	269	+77%	#311
1930s	2,474	247	-8%	#323
1940s	2,587	259	+5%	#363
1950s	2,104	210	-19%	#427
1960s	1,382	138	-34%	#599
1970s	625	63	-55%	#772
1980s	339	34	-46%	#1,339
1990s	199	20	-41%	#2,249
2000s	132	13	-34%	#4,351
2010s	119	12	-10%	#5,307
2020s (to 2025)	81	14	+13%	#5,183

The story of Sanford

Sanford is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #7,113 in 2025 with 12 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 15,044 American babies have been named Sanford. Its peak came in 1929, when 315 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 Sanford stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Sanford?

The median living Sanford is about 68 years old; half are between 56 and 77. An estimated 5,800 people named Sanford 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.

Sanford year by year

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

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	12	#7,113
2024	12	#7,191
2023	8	#9,597
2022	19	#5,183
2021	13	#6,608
2020	17	#5,419
2019	18	#5,307
2018	15	#5,994
2017	12	#7,025
2016	13	#6,659
2015	13	#6,611
2014	12	#6,981
2013	7	#10,532
2012	14	#6,252
2011	6	#12,008
2010	9	#8,668
2009	9	#8,873
2008	17	#5,448
2007	11	#7,492
2006	12	#6,832
2005	14	#5,825
2004	14	#5,742
2003	10	#7,150
2002	14	#5,344
2001	13	#5,615
2000	18	#4,351
1995	16	#4,014
1990	32	#2,249
1985	27	#2,113
1980	43	#1,468
1975	44	#1,319
1970	97	#824
1965	101	#739
1960	171	#603
1955	221	#498
1950	248	#427
1945	185	#439
1940	240	#369
1935	225	#363
1930	275	#335
1925	273	#357
1920	216	#402
1915	226	#357
1910	48	#375
1905	31	#380
1900	21	#531
1895	23	#411
1890	13	#561
1885	22	#384
1880	30	#312

Famous people named Sanford

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

1 Sanford B. Dole American judge and Hawaii politician (1844–1926) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Sanford?

The median living Sanford is about 68 years old. Half of all living Sanfords are between 56 and 77 years old.

How many people named Sanford are alive today?

An estimated 5,800 people named Sanford are alive in the United States, based on 15,044 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Sanford mean?

Sanford is a male given name of Old English origin, meaning "sandy ford".

How popular is the name Sanford in 2025?

Sanford ranked #7,113 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 12 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Sanford?

15,044 babies have been named Sanford in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Sanford most popular?

Sanford peaked in 1929, when 315 newborns received the name.

Is Sanford a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Sanford rising or falling?

Sanford has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Sanford?

Well-known people named Sanford include Sanford B. Dole (politician).

Names like Sanford

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

Compare Sanford with similar names → More names starting with S →