Raeford
Raeford is a city in Hoke County, North Carolina, United States. Its population was 4,559 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Hoke County.
Meaning & Origin of Raeford
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Raeford is a city in Hoke County, North Carolina, United States. Its population was 4,559 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Hoke County.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Raeford
The earliest SSA record of Raeford as a baby boy name dates back to 1914, when 5 babies received it. 1941 was its biggest year on record, with 21 newborns named Raeford — #1,485 in the national rankings. About 22% of every Raeford on record arrived during the 1940s, its defining decade. Raeford last appeared in the published SSA data in 1983, with 7 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 613 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1910s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Raeford
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Diamond and Silk — conservative Internet personalities
- Eric Maynor — selected 20th overall by Utah Jazz in 2009 NBA draft
- Gil McGregor — selected 89th overall by Cincinnati Royals in 1971 NBA draft
- Terrell McIntyre — retired professional basketball player; two-time All-Euroleague First Team selection; reached Euroleague Final Four in 2008 with Montepaschi Siena
- Jim McMillian — selected 13th overall by Los Angeles Lakers in 1970 NBA draft
- Kathy McMillan — former Olympic long jumper representing the United States
- Detrez Newsome , former NFL running back
- Ted Thomas Sr. — cleric with the Church of God in Christ
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Raeford
Phonetically similar names — useful when Raeford 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 Raeford
What does the name Raeford mean?
How popular is Raeford in 2026?
When was Raeford most popular?
In which U.S. states is Raeford most popular?
Is Raeford a unisex name?
What names go well with Raeford?
About the name Raeford
Raeford is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1914 and has accumulated 613 births in the dataset. Raeford's peak popularity came in 1941 when it ranked #1,485. Use the chart and map above to compare Raeford's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1941 →
- Names of the 1940s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.