Hartford
Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 at the 2020 census and was estimated at 124,006 in 2025. Hartford is the most populous city in the Capitol Planning Region and the core city of the Greater Hartford metropolitan area with 1.17 million residents in total.
Meaning & Origin of Hartford
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 at the 2020 census and was estimated at 124,006 in 2025. Hartford is the most populous city in the Capitol Planning Region and the core city of the Greater Hartford metropolitan area with 1.17 million residents in total.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Hartford
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Hartford as a girl name dates back to 2021, when 8 babies received it. 2024 was its biggest year on record, with 16 newborns named Hartford — #6,903 in the national rankings. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (16 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 53 Hartfords have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2020s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Hartford on the record books as a boy name in 1890, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1924, when 20 Hartfords were born — ranking #1,776 that year. The 1920s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 27% of all recorded Hartfords. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (7 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 442 Hartfords have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Hartford
Phonetically similar names — useful when Hartford is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hartford
What does the name Hartford mean?
How popular is Hartford in 2026?
When was Hartford most popular?
Is Hartford a unisex name?
What names go well with Hartford?
About the name Hartford
Hartford is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1890 and has accumulated 442 births in the dataset. Hartford's peak popularity came in 1924 when it ranked #1,776. Use the chart and map above to compare Hartford's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1924 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "H" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.