boy's name
Ford
FORD (English)
- Origin English
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 1
- Letters 4
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 11,482
the United States
#474
2025 births
Ford is a boy's name from an English surname for someone living by a river crossing, from the Old English word ford. It's short and solid, and it's also used as a short form of Clifford or Crawford, with an obvious link to the American car company.
- Ford is a name of English origin.
- Peaked in 2021, when 707 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 5,164 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 1 syllable, with the stress on syllable 1.
Ford Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 82 |
| 1890s | 115 |
| 1900s | 135 |
| 1910s | 694 |
| 1920s | 737 |
| 1930s | 353 |
| 1940s | 445 |
| 1950s | 418 |
| 1960s | 267 |
| 1970s | 156 |
| 1980s | 169 |
| 1990s | 330 |
| 2000s | 626 |
| 2010s | 2,783 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 3,716 |
What Ford Means
Ford means a shallow place where a river can be crossed. As a name it suggests a dependable, plainspoken character, and American parents also hear the car brand and Harrison Ford.
Where Ford Comes From
Old English ford, related to Latin portus and to the verb fare, named many river crossings, which is why it ends so many English place names, such as Oxford and Bradford. People living at such places became known as atte Ford, and the surname took shape from that. Wikipedia notes that some Irish families use it as a translation of Gaelic surnames. As a first name it follows the American habit of using surnames, and it sits among short, strong names such as Reed and Grant.
Ford in Use
Henry Ford's company made the surname world famous. Literary bearers include Ford Madox Ford and Ford Prefect of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
How Popular Is Ford?
In 2025, Ford was given to 642 babies in the United States, ranking #474 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Ford Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Ford
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Ford Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Ford over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Ford
- English FORD
Sibling Names for Ford
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Ford — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Ford
What does the name Ford mean?
A river crossing, from Old English.
Is Ford a real first name?
Yes. It's a surname that's also used for boys.
What is Ford short for?
It can be short for Clifford or Crawford.
How popular is the name Ford?
In 2025, Ford was given to 642 babies in the United States, ranking #474 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Is Ford a girl's or a boy's name?
Ford is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Ford?
Ford has 1 syllable.
When was Ford most popular?
Ford peaked in 2021, when 707 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Ford a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Ford currently ranks #474 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.