Stafford
Boy name · #3853 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Stafford? In official American birth records, Stafford has been tracked continuously since 1882, giving it 143 years of documented American history.
Stafford ranks #3853 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 28 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #5999, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 64,286 boys born in 2025 was named Stafford.
The 143-year story
Stafford first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1959, when 53 boys were named Stafford — good for #1061 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Stafford per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Stafford against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Stafford in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Stafford is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Stafford will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Stafford is most common
State-level data for Stafford is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Stafford
Statistically, parents drawn to Stafford tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Bradford, Stanton, Stewart, Stoney, and Gerard.
BradfordStantonStewartStoneyGerardStevieWardRitchie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Stafford | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | #3848 |
| 2024 | 14 | #6199 |
| 2023 | 12 | #6897 |
| 2022 | 18 | #5215 |
| 2021 | 14 | #6032 |
| 2020 | 14 | #5980 |
| 2019 | 11 | #7173 |
| 2018 | 16 | #5540 |
| 2017 | 14 | #6060 |
| 2016 | 12 | #6726 |
| 2015 | 14 | #5999 |
| 2014 | 11 | #7048 |
| 2013 | 20 | #4621 |
| 2012 | 12 | #6626 |
| 2011 | 11 | #7009 |
| 2010 | 10 | #7591 |
| 2009 | 5 | #12491 |
| 2008 | 14 | #6070 |
| 2007 | 10 | #7590 |
| 2006 | 12 | #6460 |
| 2004 | 11 | #6520 |
| 2003 | 8 | #7831 |
| 2002 | 5 | #10667 |
| 2001 | 10 | #6445 |
| 2000 | 17 | #4389 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Stafford?
In official American birth records, the name Stafford first appeared in 1882 (over 143 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Stafford a popular boy name?
Stafford ranked #3853 among boys in 2025 with 28 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #5999.
When was the name Stafford most popular?
Stafford peaked in 1959, when 53 American boys received the name (ranked #1061 that year). Since 1959 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Stafford?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 64,286 newborn American boys was named Stafford. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.