Boy · #4,908 in 2026

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.

Current Rank
#4,908
Peak Rank
#1,485 (1941)
Total Babies
613
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1914
First Year
1983
Last Year
1941
Peak Year
#1485
Peak Rank
613
Total Count
56
Years Active

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
John McRae and A.A. Williford operated a turpentine distillery and general store, respectively. Each took a syllable from his name and came up with the name Raeford for the post office they established. [ citation needed ] The McRae family, who lived at the "ford of the creek", was at one time made up primarily of old Highland Scot families. Likewise, the Upper Cape Fear Valley of North Carolina was, in the 18th and 19th centuries, the largest settlement of Gaelic -speaking Highland Scots in North America. [ citation needed ] Today, many of these old families continue to live in the area, thou

The Story of Raeford

Raeford first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1914, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1941, when 21 Raefords were born — ranking #1,485 that year. As of 2026, Raeford ranks #4,908 for baby boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 613 Raefords have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Top 10
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No data

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?
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.
How popular is Raeford in 2026?
In 2026, Raeford ranks #4,908 among boys' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.
When was Raeford most popular?
Raeford reached its peak popularity in 1941, ranking #1,485 that year with 21 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Raeford most popular?
Raeford has historically been most popular in North Carolina. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Raeford.
Is Raeford a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Raeford is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Raeford?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Raeford include Lynne, Windle, Shone. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Lynne
Peak #1485
👦
Windle
Peak #1485
👦
Shone
Peak #1485
👦
Mart
Peak #1484
👦
Roberta
Peak #1486
👦
Sixto
Peak #1487
👦
Roch
Peak #1487
👦
Graylin
Peak #1487

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

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.