Ord
Word or expression denoting rank or sequence.
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Ord. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Ord today is around 81 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ord births was 1924 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ord. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Ord is about 81 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Ords were born before 1955.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ord. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1924
5 babies that year
Average age
81
years old
1945 SSA rank
#3,649
Tracked since 1924
Popularity
Ord: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ord from the 1920s through to the 1940s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 10 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ord by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Ord during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Ord
The name Ord is a given name of Old English origin, derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "ord," which means "point" or "spear." It emerged during the early medieval period in England and was used primarily as a masculine name. The name's etymology suggests a connection to warfare, bravery, and strength, as it was likely given to warriors or soldiers.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Ord can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical record mentions several individuals bearing the name Ord, indicating its usage among the Anglo-Saxon population of the time.
One of the earliest notable figures with the name Ord was Ord of Devon, a 12th-century English nobleman and landowner. He was mentioned in various charters and records from the reign of King Henry II, suggesting his prominence during that era.
In the 13th century, Ord de Stuteville, a member of the powerful Stuteville family, held significant lands and influence in Northumberland, England. His name appears in legal documents and land transactions from that period.
Moving forward to the 14th century, Ord de Holte was a prominent English landowner and knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. He participated in several notable battles and was recorded in chronicles of the time.
During the 16th century, Ord Wyrrall, an English merchant and trader, made a name for himself in the thriving wool and textile trade. He was mentioned in various business records and trade documents from the period.
Another historical figure bearing the name Ord was Ord Parkington, a 17th-century English politician and member of the House of Commons. He was actively involved in the political affairs of his time and represented various constituencies in Parliament.
While the name Ord has been relatively uncommon in recent times, its rich historical roots and connections to the Anglo-Saxon era make it a unique and intriguing given name with a strong sense of heritage and tradition.
People
Ord + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ord as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with O
Other first names starting with O with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ord: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ord?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ord going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Ord a common name?
We classify Ord as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 20 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ord most popular?
The single biggest year for Ord was 1924, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ord is about 81 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Ord in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Ord a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ord in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Ord still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Ord in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Ord can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Ord as a first name?
If you just want to know how many people have the name Ord, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.