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Medford

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Medford

Pronounced MED-furd /ˈmɛd.fərd/Medium

Meaning: Medford is an English surname taken from place names meaning 'middle ford' or 'meadow ford' — a river-crossing in the middle, or by a meadow. Carried to New England as a town name, it moved into occasional first-name use.Low

In 30 seconds: Medford is a surname-and-place name meaning 'middle ford' — a crossing in the middle of a river (said 'MED-furd').

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Origin LowEnglish

MeaningMedford is an English surname taken from place names meaning 'middle ford' or 'meadow ford' — a river-crossing in the middle, or by a meadow. Carried to New England as a town name, it moved into occasional first-name use.

U.S. rank (1980)#6913 ↘ Falling

1980 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1924

Total births (all-time)≈ 665

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Medford comes from English places meaning 'middle ford' or 'meadow ford', a river-crossing name of the kind that filled the English map. As a New England town name it drifted into use as an American given name, honoring a place or family line.

It saw quiet use as a surname-name, peaking faintly around 1924 and fading by the 1980s. It was never common — only a few dozen boys a year at most.

Did you know? Medford, Massachusetts, gave the world the song 'Jingle Bells', reportedly written there; the place-name's fame far outstrips its quiet use as a first name.

Overall data confidence 55%

References — Medford — English 'middle ford'; New England town name

Variations

MedfordeMeddford

Nicknames

MedFord

Famous Bearers

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If you like Medford…

Bradford— a fellow English -ford surname name

Radford— another 'ford' place-name turned first name

Crawford— another vintage -ford boys' name

Melford— a fellow English choice

Manford— shares Medford's English roots

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Medford mean?

Medford is an English surname and place name meaning 'middle ford' or 'meadow ford'.

How do you pronounce Medford?

It's said MED-furd /ˈmɛd.fərd/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Medford a boy or girl name?

Medford is used as a boy's name, a surname and place-name.

How popular is Medford?

Medford has always been rare in the U.S., a surname-name most seen in the early twentieth century.