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Home › Baby Names Directory › Wilford

Wilford

♂ Boy

Pronounced WIL-furd /ˈwɪl.fərd/High

Meaning: An English surname from a place-name, usually read as 'the willow ford' — the river crossing by the willow trees. It was used as a first name in America from the nineteenth century; actor Wilford Brimley is a well-known bearer.Low

In 30 seconds: A vintage English surname name: Wilford means 'the ford by the willows' (said 'WIL-furd').
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningAn English surname from a place-name, usually read as 'the willow ford' — the river crossing by the willow trees. It was used as a first name in America from the nineteenth century; actor Wilford Brimley is a well-known bearer.
U.S. rank (2024)#14116 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1926
Total births (all-time)≈ 10,433

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192618802024

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

Wilford began as an English place-name and surname, most naturally read as 'the willow ford' — a crossing point on a river marked by willow trees. Like many such surnames it crossed to America and became a given name in the nineteenth century, when it was reasonably common. Today it has a warm, old-fashioned dignity; actor Wilford Brimley is its best-remembered bearer (said 'WIL-furd').

It appears only rarely in U.S. records now, after wider use a century ago. Rare, vintage, and sturdy.

Did you know? Wilford is a place-name — the ford, or river crossing, where the willows grow. It became an American first name in the 1800s, and actor Wilford Brimley kept it familiar through the twentieth century (said 'WIL-furd').
Overall data confidence 50%
References — Wilford — English place-name surname; 'willow ford'

Variations

WilfredWilfridWillford

Nicknames

WillFord

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Wilford…

Wilfred— the closest classic cousin
Clifford— the same -ford place-name shape
Ford— the crisp short form
Shepherd— a similarly popular pick
Gerard— echoes that soft -rd sound

Explore names like Wilford

By themeenglishplace-namevintagesurname
By meaningSea / Water

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Wilford mean?

Wilford is an English place-name surname, usually read as 'the willow ford' — the river crossing by the willows.

How do you pronounce Wilford?

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

Is Wilford a boy or girl name?

Wilford is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Wilford?

Wilford is a rare name for boys in the U.S. today, after wider use a century ago.

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