Gilford is of English origin, derived from a surname that was an occupational name for someone who worked as a steward or guardian. It is composed of two Old English elements: 'gyld' meaning 'gold', and 'ford' signifying 'river crossing'. Thus, Gilford could be interpreted to mean 'golden ford'. The name has been used as both a first and last name throughout history. Notable figures include Gilford Whiting, an American educator and clergyman of the 19th century.
Over the span of 91 years, from 1884 to 1974, there were a total of 1225 babies named Gilford born. The number of annual births fluctuated significantly throughout this period, ranging from as low as 5 in several years to as high as 40 in 1922. The peak decades for the name Gilford appear to be the 1910s and early 1920s, with a gradual decline thereafter until the late 1960s when births became quite infrequent, often with fewer than 10 occurrences per year.