Raiford is an uncommon given name of American origin, derived from the surname Raiford which is of Old English derivation. The name means "strong spear" and reflects the historical use of spears in warfare and hunting during medieval times. It was originally a occupational surname for a spearman or soldier. In its early uses, the name may have also been associated with the Anglo-Saxon personal name Reifnod, which translates to "powerful in battle." Today, Raiford is rarely encountered as a first name but can still be found as a family name in various parts of the United States.
The name Raiford experienced fluctuations in popularity over the years with a total of 594 births recorded between 1913 and 1992. The most popular years were 1916 and 1942, each with 16 births, while some years like 1965 had only 5 births. After the peak in 1950-1951 (14 births), there was a steady decline until the 1970s where it maintained around 5-7 births per year.