Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1926

Wilford

Gender Boy Rank 2025 #8,872
Rank 2025
#8,872
among boys · ↑5,293 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
9
named Wilford
How common
1 in 189,786
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1926
276 babies
All-time total
10,447
#1,178 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Wilford popularity over time

10,447 babies have been named Wilford 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
0.10.20.30.418801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
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 – 170 170 17 – #364
1890s – 191 191 19 +12% #339
1900s – 246 246 25 +29% #382
1910s – 1,698 1,698 170 +590% #333
1920s 5 2,492 2,497 250 +47% #349
1930s – 1,689 1,689 169 -32% #391
1940s – 1,346 1,346 135 -20% #482
1950s – 1,071 1,071 107 -20% #617
1960s – 598 598 60 -44% #910
1970s – 390 390 39 -35% #1,157
1980s – 228 228 23 -42% #1,651
1990s – 127 127 13 -44% #3,451
2000s – 72 72 7 -43% #5,289
2010s – 86 86 9 +19% #6,020
2020s (to 2025) – 38 38 6 -26% #8,224

The story of Wilford

Wilford is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #8,872 in 2025 with 9 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 10,447 American babies have been named Wilford. Its peak came in 1926, when 276 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 Wilford stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Wilford?

The median living Wilford is about 68 years old; half are between 53 and 78. An estimated 3,100 people named Wilford are alive in the United States today.

median 68 020406080100

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

Wilford 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 – – 9 #8,872
2024 – – 5 #14,165
2023 – – 10 #8,224
2022 – – 7 #10,781
2021 – – – –
2020 – – 7 #10,549
2019 – – – –
2018 – – 6 #12,069
2017 – – 10 #8,109
2016 – – 8 #9,613
2015 – – 10 #8,005
2014 – – 11 #7,526
2013 – – 9 #8,744
2012 – – 7 #10,710
2011 – – 10 #8,042
2010 – – 15 #6,020
2009 – – – –
2008 – – 8 #9,827
2007 – – 5 #14,302
2006 – – 5 #13,939
2005 – – 9 #8,267
2004 – – 8 #8,887
2003 – – 5 #12,690
2002 – – 5 #12,424
2001 – – 13 #5,656
2000 – – 14 #5,289
1995 – – 14 #4,502
1990 – – 15 #3,965
1985 – – 11 #4,041
1980 – – 25 #2,160
1975 – – 43 #1,344
1970 – – 52 #1,157
1965 – – 58 #975
1960 – – 70 #910
1955 – – 116 #684
1950 – – 118 #641
1945 – – 128 #529
1940 – – 143 #482
1935 – – 153 #460
1930 – – 210 #400
1925 5 #5,748 252 #375
1920 – – 249 #378
1915 – – 240 #345
1910 – – 39 #446
1905 – – 25 #451
1900 – – 24 #476
1895 – – 18 #489
1890 – – 16 #488
1885 – – 20 #409
1880 – – 18 #424

Famous people named Wilford

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

  1. 1 Wilford Brimley Wilford Brimley American actor (1934–2020) Contemporary
  2. 2 Wilford Woodruff Wilford Woodruff 4th President of the LDS Church from 1889 to 1898 1807–1898 · 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Wilford?

The median living Wilford is about 68 years old. Half of all living Wilfords are between 53 and 78 years old.

How many people named Wilford are alive today?

An estimated 3,100 people named Wilford are alive in the United States, based on 10,447 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Wilford in 2025?

Wilford ranked #8,872 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 9 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Wilford?

10,447 babies have been named Wilford in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Wilford most popular?

Wilford peaked in 1926, when 276 newborns received the name.

Is Wilford a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Wilford rising or falling?

Wilford has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Wilford?

Well-known people named Wilford include Wilford Brimley (actor), Wilford Woodruff (politician).

Names like Wilford

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

Compare Wilford with similar names → More names starting with W →