Total births
1,204
Boys' name · since 1885
Radford
1,204 babies named Radford in U.S. Social Security records since 1885, with the highest year being 1935. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 1,204
- total births
- 1885–2025
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 15%
- born in that decade
Radford is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 1,204 have been recorded since 1885.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Radford has been recorded 1,204 times among boys since 1885, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1885 to 2025.
- 1,204 total births
- 1885–2025 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 15% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
1,204 boys have been named Radford since 1885, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2025.
- 1,204
- total births
- 1885–2025
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 15%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
15% of everyone ever named Radford was born in this single decade.
1935
Single peak year
26 babies were named Radford in 1935 - its busiest year on record.
Radford's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Radford's SSA record in two at 1953 and the more recent half accounts for 44% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 56%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1885, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1935 peak of 26, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Radford at a glance
Last recorded 2025Peak year
1935
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1885
Radford popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1885–2025
- Peak year (1935)
- 26
- Annual births at peak, across 141 years of records
Radford by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Radford's strongest decade.
182 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 15% of all-time use.
Radford births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 5
1880s
5 births
- 1890s 10
1890s
10 births
- 1900s 15
1900s
15 births
- 1910s
1910s
113 births
- 1920s
1920s
182 births
- 1930s
1930s
150 births
- 1940s
1940s
151 births
- 1950s
1950s
178 births
- 1960s
1960s
149 births
- 1970s
1970s
87 births
- 1980s 48
1980s
48 births
- 1990s 27
1990s
27 births
- 2010s 58
2010s
58 births
- 2020s 31
2020s
31 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 182 births (15% of all-time use).
How Radford compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Radford's total volume
Radford vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Radford by state
Where Radford concentrates geographically, total births since 1885
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Alabama | | 16 | 1.3% |
| #2 | Hawaii | | 10 | 0.8% |
| #3 | North Carolina | | 6 | 0.5% |
| #4 | Tennessee | | 6 | 0.5% |
| #5 | Kentucky | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #6 | Virginia | | 5 | 0.4% |
Alabama share of Radford's total US births 1.3%
Even split
16 of 1,204 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Radford? ▼
1,204 babies have been named Radford since 1885. It was last recorded in 2025. The peak year was 1935 with 26 births.
When was Radford most popular? ▼
Radford was most popular in the 1920s decade with 182 total births. The single peak year was 1935.
Where is Radford most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Radford are Alabama (16 births), Hawaii (10 births), North Carolina (6 births).
How long has the name Radford been used? ▼
Records for Radford go back to 1885, giving 141 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Radford? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Radley, Radames, Rad, Radek, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Radford's data
- Radford's decade-level peak was the 1920s (182 total births); usage has since declined to 31 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Alabama records the most Radfords (16 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Alabama names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Radford
Nearby Names Like Radford
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Radford
Radley Boy
#1577 1,597 births
Radames Boy
819 births
Rad Boy
#6896 214 births
Radek Boy
182 births
Raden Boy
#11555 165 births
Compare Radford side by side: Radford vs Radley Radford vs Radames Radford vs Rad
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1885–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Radford: Baby Name Since 1885 - 1,204 Births, Peak 1935." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/radford. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Radford draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.