Total births
146
Boys' name · since 1913
Willford
Willford has 146 recorded births since 1913 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1942 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 146
- total births
- 1913–1948
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 38%
- born in that decade
Willford is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 146 have been recorded since 1913.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Willford has been recorded 146 times among boys since 1913, 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 1913 to 1948.
- 146 total births
- 1913–1948 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 38% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
146 boys have been named Willford since 1913, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1948.
- 146
- total births
- 1913–1948
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 38%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
38% of everyone ever named Willford was born in this single decade.
1942
Single peak year
11 babies were named Willford in 1942 - its busiest year on record.
Willford's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Willford splits its recorded history at 1927: 52% of all births land in the more recent half, 48% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1915 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1942 peak of 11 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Willford at a glance
Last recorded 1948Peak year
1942
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1913
Willford popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1913–1948
- Peak year (1942)
- 11
- Annual births at peak, across 36 years of records
Willford by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Willford's strongest decade.
56 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 38% of all-time use.
Willford births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
29 births
- 1920s
1920s
56 births
- 1930s
1930s
26 births
- 1940s
1940s
35 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 56 births (38% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Willford? ▼
146 babies have been named Willford since 1913. It was last recorded in 1948. The peak year was 1942 with 11 births.
When was Willford most popular? ▼
Willford was most popular in the 1920s decade with 56 total births. The single peak year was 1942.
How long has the name Willford been used? ▼
Records for Willford go back to 1913, giving 36 years of history through 1948.
What names are similar to Willford? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include William, Willie, Willard, Wilbur, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Willford's data
- Willford's usage has stayed within range of its 1920s decade-level peak (56 total births) through the 1940s (35) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- 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 Willford
Nearby Names Like Willford
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Willford
William Boy
#10 4,199,696 births
Willie Boy
#1364 450,188 births
Willard Boy
#2958 77,658 births
Wilbur Boy
#2959 56,906 births
Willis Boy
#2638 52,336 births
Compare Willford side by side: Willford vs William Willford vs Willie Willford vs Willard
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1913–1948 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Willford: Baby Name Since 1913 - 146 Births, Peak 1942." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/willford. 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 Willford 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 July 2026.