Find out how popular the first name Cardiff has been for the last 1 years (from 2022 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Cardiff by gender

Based on the last 1 years of data, Cardiff is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 8 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Cardiff.

The history of the first name Cardiff

Cardiff is a place name that originated in Wales, derived from the Welsh words "caer" meaning fort and "dyf" meaning river. The name refers to the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales, located on the River Taff. The earliest recorded use of the name Cardiff dates back to the 11th century, when it was written as "Kairdyf" in the Domesday Book of 1086.

While the name Cardiff is primarily associated with the Welsh city, it has been adopted as a given name, particularly in English-speaking countries. One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Cardiff was Cardiff Rees, a Welsh soldier who fought in the English Civil War in the 17th century.

In the 19th century, the name Cardiff gained some popularity, likely influenced by the growing prominence of the Welsh city as an industrial and maritime center. One notable bearer of the name was Cardiff Giant, a famous hoax perpetrated in 1869 involving the alleged discovery of a petrified giant in Cardiff, New York.

Another prominent figure named Cardiff was Sir Cardiff Bayly, a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born in 1866 and played a significant role in the development of naval gunnery.

In the 20th century, the name Cardiff was occasionally used, albeit rarely. One example is Cardiff Hall, an English actor and playwright born in 1911, who was known for his work in theater and television.

More recently, the name Cardiff has been used as a given name, though it remains relatively uncommon. One notable bearer is Cardiff Garcia, an American journalist and economist born in the late 20th century, who has written for publications such as the Financial Times and The Economist.

Overall, the name Cardiff has its roots in Welsh history and geography, with its earliest recorded uses dating back to the 11th century. While not a widely popular given name, it has been adopted by individuals throughout history, often with connections to Wales or the maritime and industrial heritage of the city of Cardiff.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Cardiff was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cardiff, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!