Bedford
Bedford is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Beda's ford or river crossing.
Origin and history
Bedford is a traditional English habitational name originating from the town of Bedford in England. It historically derived from an Old English personal name combined with the word for a river crossing or ford. In the United States, it has been used as a rare classical surname-turned-first-name since the late 19th century.
Popularity in the United States
1,240 babies in the United States have been named Bedford since 1880. It ranks #3458 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1922.
States where it is most popular
- TN (67.3 %)
- KY (10.2 %)
- MS (7.5 %)
- AL (5.4 %)
- TX (5.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 49 |
| 1890-1900 | 29 |
| 1900-1910 | 54 |
| 1910-1920 | 181 |
| 1920-1930 | 305 |
| 1930-1940 | 201 |
| 1940-1950 | 158 |
| 1950-1960 | 122 |
| 1960-1970 | 82 |
| 1970-1980 | 24 |
| 1980-1990 | 20 |
| 1990-2000 | 5 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 5 |
| 2020-2029 | 5 |
Famous people named Bedford
- Bedford Forrest: Military Leader
Fun facts
- The name originally referred to a town along the River Great Ouse in England, meaning the river crossing belonging to a man named Beda.
- Like many aristocratic English place names, Bedford transitioned into use as a given name in the 19th century.