Total births
170
Boys' name · since 1916
Raford
Since 1916, U.S. Social Security records show 170 babies named Raford, peaking in 1935. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 170
- total births
- 1916–1982
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 31%
- born in that decade
Raford sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 170 recorded since 1916.
Social Security Administration records show Raford recorded 170 times among boys since 1916, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1930s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1916 to 1982.
- 170 total births
- 1916–1982 years on record
- 1930s peak decade
- 31% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
170 boys have been named Raford since 1916, peaking in the 1930s, last recorded in 1982.
- 170
- total births
- 1916–1982
- years on record
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 31%
- born in that decade
1930s
Peak decade
31% of everyone ever named Raford was born in this single decade.
1935
Single peak year
10 babies were named Raford in 1935 - its busiest year on record.
Raford's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Raford splits its recorded history at 1937: 48% of all births land in the more recent half, 52% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1918 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1935 peak of 10 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Raford at a glance
Last recorded 1982Peak year
1935
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1916
Raford popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1916–1982
- Peak year (1935)
- 10
- Annual births at peak, across 67 years of records
Raford by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1930s was Raford's strongest decade.
52 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 31% of all-time use.
Raford births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 12
1910s
12 births
- 1920s
1920s
40 births
- 1930s
1930s
52 births
- 1940s
1940s
27 births
- 1950s 18
1950s
18 births
- 1960s 16
1960s
16 births
- 1980s 5
1980s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 52 births (31% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Raford? ▼
Since 1916, Social Security records show 170 babies named Raford. The most recent recorded year was 1982. Its busiest year on record was 1935, with 10 births.
When was Raford most popular? ▼
Raford was most popular in the 1930s decade with 52 total births. The single peak year was 1935.
How long has the name Raford been used? ▼
Raford has been recorded in Social Security data since 1916, spanning 67 years of data through 1982.
What names are similar to Raford? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Rafael, Rafe, Raffaele, Rafeal, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Raford's data
- Raford's decade-level peak was the 1930s (52 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- 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 Raford
Nearby Names Like Raford
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Raford
Rafael Boy
#222 89,379 births
Rafe Boy
#1310 2,935 births
Raffaele Boy
#5259 1,079 births
Rafeal Boy
925 births
Raffi Boy
#6547 839 births
Compare Raford side by side: Raford vs Rafael Raford vs Rafe Raford vs Raffaele
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, 1916–1982 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Raford: Baby Name Since 1916 - 170 Births, Peak 1935." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/raford. 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 Raford 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.