Ford
Meaningriver crossing · Old English
- US rank
- #474
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #434 in 1890
642 babies were named Ford in the US in 2025. It has dropped 15 places in five years.
Nicknames & spellings
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Ford you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Ford
Ford Madox Ford
English writer and publisher (1873-1939)
Choose Ford and your child shares a first name with Ford Madox Ford, an English writer and publisher. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Ford, like who?” Ford Madox Ford's Wikipedia article is available in 40 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Ford Madox Ford on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 2,660 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Ford, 642 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Ford would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryFord has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Fords, and counting.
- Best yearIts best year was 1890, when it reached #434.
- Then vs nowFord is 14× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 37,736 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 2,660.
- Where it's lovedFord is most popular in Utah, where it ranks #158, followed by Montana (#227) and Colorado (#272). It's in the top 1,000 in 35 states.
- MeaningIn Old English, Ford means “river crossing”.
About the name Ford
Ford is a boy name of English origin meaning “river crossing”. It has 4 letters and 1 syllable, starting with F and ending in “-ord”. US birth records list Ford for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 145 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1890, when it ranked #434 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #474, with 642 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 76 | 13,196 boys |
| 1890s | 101 | 9,863 boys |
| 1900s | 97 | 10,276 boys |
| 1910s | 103 | 9,722 boys |
| 1920s | 67 | 14,959 boys |
| 1930s | 33 | 29,994 boys |
| 1940s | 30 | 33,367 boys |
| 1950s | 21 | 48,123 boys |
| 1960s | 14 | 72,359 boys |
| 1970s | 9.3 | 107,066 boys |
| 1980s | 9.1 | 109,890 boys |
| 1990s | 17 | 58,617 boys |
| 2000s | 31 | 32,020 boys |
| 2010s | 148 | 6,742 boys |
| 2020s | 358 | 2,790 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Ford
What does the name Ford mean?
Ford means “river crossing” in Old English.
What is the origin of the name Ford?
Ford has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Ford a boy or girl name?
Ford is a boy name.
How popular is the name Ford?
Ford ranked #474 for US boys in 2025, given to 642 babies. Its best year was 1890 (#434).