Gifford is a unique and distinctive given name of English origin. It is derived from the Old English personal name "Gyffard," which was composed of two elements: "gifu" meaning "gift" or "treasure," and "hard" meaning "strong" or "hardy." Therefore, the name Gifford can be interpreted as meaning "strong in battle" or "brave warrior."
The name Gifford has a rich history that dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It was introduced into England by the Normans after the Norman Conquest of 1066 and became quite popular among the nobility during the Middle Ages. The name can be found in various forms throughout English history, such as Gyfford, Gifford, Jifford, and even Jeffrey.
One notable figure with the surname Gifford is Sir William Gifford, who was an English poet and literary critic active in the early 19th century. He is best known for his satire "The Poetical Works of Thomas Little, Esq.," which was published anonymously in 1807. Additionally, the Giffords are a prominent family in British politics, with several members having served as Members of Parliament.
Today, Gifford remains an uncommon but memorable given name that carries a sense of strength and history. It is often chosen by parents looking for a unique and meaningful name for their child. While it may not be widely popular, the name Gifford has a distinctive charm and a rich heritage that sets it apart from many other names.
The name Gifford has a unique history when it comes to its usage as a given name in the United States. According to the statistics provided, there was a noticeable fluctuation in the number of babies named Gifford from year to year between 1891 and 2017.
At the beginning of this period, the name's popularity was quite low, with only 6 births recorded in 1891. However, it seemed to gain some traction over the next few years, with birth counts ranging from 5 to 14 between 1897 and 1914.
The early 20th century marked a period of significant growth for the name Gifford. Between 1915 and 1923, there were at least 20 births each year, with peaks reaching as high as 40 in 1920. This trend continued until 1926, when the birth count began to decline again.
From 1927 onwards, the popularity of the name Gifford started to wane once more. Birth counts fluctuated between 12 and 32 until 1934, after which they consistently remained below 20 each year until 1965.
There was a brief resurgence in the mid-1960s, with birth counts ranging from 8 to 15 between 1965 and 1968. However, this did not last long, as the popularity of the name Gifford continued to decrease throughout the remainder of the century.
Between 1970 and 2014, there were fewer than 10 babies named Gifford each year in the United States. The name seemed to make a small comeback in recent years, with 6 births recorded in both 2017 and 2018.
Overall, while the name Gifford has experienced periods of popularity throughout its history in the United States, it is currently not one of the most common names given to newborns. With a total of 1452 babies named Gifford since 1891, it remains a distinctive and unique choice for parents looking for something less ordinary.