Bedford

Q: What is the origin of Bedford?

Bedford is of English origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: How popular is the name Bedford?

According to the latest SSA data, Bedford is currently ranked #999999 in the United States. The popularity of this name has evolved over the past century based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Q: Is Bedford a boy name?

Bedford is traditionally a boy name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

male

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Ford By the Bed"

English place-name and surname used as a given name, historically referring to a ford and a river-bed setting.

Themes:toponymsurnameplaceenglish

Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection Curator • Creative Names Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Bedford

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

UnrankedNot ranked

SSA did not record this spelling in the national rankings for the available chart years. Names used fewer than 5 times in a year are omitted from the dataset.

Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

Unranked

Bedford did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Bedford Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Bedford.

11 ideas

Bedie

Nickname

Bedf

Nickname

bedf

Nickname

bedy

Nickname

ford

Nickname

ordy

Nickname

dfoy

Nickname

bie

Nickname

Similar Names to Bedford

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Anthony

AN-thuh-nee

“Priceless; Invaluable”

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Andrew

AN-droo

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Alexander

al-ig-ZAN-der

“Defender of Men”

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Austin

AW-stun

“Great, Venerable”

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Allen

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Alvin

“Noble Friend”

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Arnold

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Andy

“Manly; Brave”

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Ashton

“Ash Tree Town”

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Avery

AY-vuh-ree

“Ruler of Elves”

#259

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Baby Name Lists That Include Bedford

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Bedford, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

18 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Bedford mean?

Bedford means "Ford By the Bed". English place-name and surname used as a given name, historically referring to a ford and a river-bed setting.

What is the origin of Bedford?

Bedford is of English origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Bedford?

According to the latest SSA data, Bedford is currently not ranked in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Bedford a boy name?

Bedford is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Bedford?

Popular nicknames for Bedford include Bedie, Bedf, bedf, bedy, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Bedford?

There are many names similar to Bedford in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginEnglish

Syllables2

Length7 letters

Trend→ Stable

Starts withB

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Alton Al Ashley Addison Anson

Sisters

Arlene Addie Ashlee Ashleigh Audra

Explore More Boy Names Like Bedford

Bedford has English roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our English baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Bedford appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Names That Mean Nature and Names That Mean Water for Boys and Girls for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Unique Baby Names and Traditional English Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Bedford pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Bedford beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.