Sanford
Meaningsandy ford · Old English
- US rank
- #6,803
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #298 in 1882
12 babies were named Sanford in the US in 2025. It has dropped 1,568 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Sanford you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Sanford
Sanford Robinson Gifford
American painter (1823–1880)
Choose Sanford and your child shares a first name with Sanford Robinson Gifford, an American painter. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Sanford, like who?” Sanford Robinson Gifford's Wikipedia article is available in 21 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Sanford Robinson Gifford on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Sanford Robinson Gifford, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 142,857 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Sanford, 12 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Sanford would very likely be the only one.
- HistorySanford has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Sanfords, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1882, when it ranked #298. Today it's #6,803, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendSanford has slipped 1,568 places over the last five years and now sits at #6,803. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningIn Old English, Sanford means “sandy ford”.
About the name Sanford
Sanford is a boy name of English origin meaning “sandy ford”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with S and ending in “-ord”. US birth records list Sanford for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked #298 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #6,803, with 12 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 230 | 4,342 boys |
| 1890s | 211 | 4,744 boys |
| 1900s | 218 | 4,590 boys |
| 1910s | 227 | 4,413 boys |
| 1920s | 244 | 4,091 boys |
| 1930s | 234 | 4,267 boys |
| 1940s | 176 | 5,681 boys |
| 1950s | 105 | 9,514 boys |
| 1960s | 71 | 13,996 boys |
| 1970s | 38 | 26,638 boys |
| 1980s | 18 | 54,201 boys |
| 1990s | 10 | 98,425 boys |
| 2000s | 6.6 | 151,057 boys |
| 2010s | 6.4 | 156,986 boys |
| 2020s | 7.8 | 128,205 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 Sanford
What does the name Sanford mean?
Sanford means “sandy ford” in Old English.
What is the origin of the name Sanford?
Sanford has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Sanford a boy or girl name?
Sanford is a boy name.
How popular is the name Sanford?
Sanford ranked #6,803 for US boys in 2025, given to 12 babies. Its best year was 1882 (#298).