Ford

Ford - A very unique male name

Ford appeared on the charts for the first time in 1912 on position #608. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Ford and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Ford? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Ford. The baby boy name Ford was given to 617 baby boys in 2025, ranking #471 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 2,376 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Ford peaked in popularity 5 years ago in 2021 on position 437.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Ford, 1-5?

Ford is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Ford is currently topping the baby name charts in Utah at position #161 - and is the least popular in New Jersey at position #792.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Ford is where you live.

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Ford origin and meaning

Transferred English surname and place name

From Old English ford: a shallow river crossing

Ford named both the places where rivers could be crossed and the families who lived by them, and the car company later took it from its founder's surname. As a given name it has a long, thin history since 1912 and a modest modern revival that peaked in 2021.

Attested etymology

Ford is a 4 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Ford, pop culture references for the name Ford and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Ford

We've found the following names that sound similar to Ford, sorted by popularity.

Fred / Freddie / Freddy / Fredy / Fredi / Farid / Fareed / Ferdie / Farhad / Fredie /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Ford

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Ford a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Ford?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

FORD · /fɔrd/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Forde — Surname spelling with a final e.

Famous bearers

• Ford Madox Ford — Novelist, author of The Good Soldier; born Ford Hermann Hueffer and known by this name (1873–1939) Historical

Style

SurnamePlace name

Why parents choose it

Ford is chosen for rugged, industrial Americana in a single syllable — straightforward and confident. It appeals alongside other short surname names like Brooks and Hayes.

Worth knowing

• The Ford Motor Company association is unavoidable and will be the first thing many people mention.