Sanford
Sanford is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Sandy ford or sandy river crossing.
Origin and history
Sanford originates as an Old English habitational surname referring to someone living near a sandy ford. Historically given as a masculine first name in the United States, its usage was most common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, it remains a rare given name with classic surname roots.
Popularity in the United States
15,044 babies in the United States have been named Sanford since 1880. It ranks #968 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1846.
States where it is most popular
- NY (23.4 %)
- OH (10.2 %)
- PA (5.9 %)
- GA (5.9 %)
- CA (5.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 252 |
| 1890-1900 | 240 |
| 1900-1910 | 294 |
| 1910-1920 | 1,522 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,694 |
| 1930-1940 | 2,474 |
| 1940-1950 | 2,587 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,104 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,382 |
| 1970-1980 | 625 |
| 1980-1990 | 339 |
| 1990-2000 | 199 |
| 2000-2010 | 132 |
| 2010-2019 | 119 |
| 2020-2029 | 81 |
Famous people named Sanford
- Sanford Dole: Politician, Jurist
- Sanford Meisner: Acting Teacher, Actor
Nicknames
Sandy
Fun facts
- Sanford originally described individuals who resided near a shallow, sandy point in a river or stream used for crossing.
- Sanford was regularly used as a given name in the United States during the late 1800s and early 1900s.