Ladd

A boy's name of Old English origin with 1,303 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's name#4790 in 2024Rising fast

Meaning & Origin

A surname.

Ladd is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, derived from the Middle English ladde meaning 'servant' or 'young man.' As a surname-turned-given name, it carries the same casual, working-class charm as surnames like Reid or Chase.

Ladd peaked as a first name in mid-20th-century America, partly through the fame of actor Alan Ladd, the star of the classic Western Shane (1953). Its crisp single syllable and rugged simplicity give it an understated, no-nonsense masculine appeal.

EtymologyShow more

Ladd is cataloged under the Old English naming tradition. Names from the Old English tradition carry linguistic and cultural patterns that shape their sound, structure, and associations.

In the U.S., Ladd has been recorded as a boy's name since 1915, with 1,303 total births. Browse the Old English names hub on this site to explore the broader family.

At a Glance

1,303

Total births

Since 1915

1961

Peak

38 births

1915

First recorded

110 years of data

Compare Ladd with another name

Popularity Over Time

Ladd climbed 3811 spots in the last 20 years — from #8601 to #4790.

First appeared: 1915Peak: 1961 (38 births)Current: #4790

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Ladd
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	83	#5713	▼
2010s	142	#6271	▲
2000s	76	#8696	▲
1990s	64	#7892	▼
1980s	99	#4558	▼
1970s	134	#3242	▼
1960s	242	#1703	▲
1950s	180	#1985	▲
1940s	160	#2007	▲
1930s	54	#3268	▲
1920s	49	#3992	▲
1910s	20	#3529	—

The Story of Ladd

A Baby Boomer name

Peaking in 1961, Ladd is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Ladd are most likely born between 1951 and 1971.

How rare is Ladd?

Only about 1 in every 171,429 babies born in 2024 was named Ladd — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1915, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1960s with 242 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.

Ladd by the numbers

Would fill 27 school buses
Meeting one Ladd per day would take 3.6 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(100 years, 1915–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Ladd
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	21	#4790	+2 (10.5%)
2023	19	#5168	+7 (58.3%)
2022	12	#7061	-4 (-25.0%)
2021	16	#5683	+1 (6.7%)
2020	15	#5861	-5 (-25.0%)
2019	20	#4897	+1 (5.3%)
2018	19	#5026	-5 (-20.8%)
2017	24	#4283	+8 (50.0%)
2016	16	#5682	-1 (-5.9%)
2015	17	#5420	-2 (-10.5%)
2014	19	#4984	+10 (111.1%)
2013	9	#8501	-2 (-18.2%)
2012	11	#7339	+4 (57.1%)
2011	7	#10303	+1 (16.7%)
2009	6	#11856	-7 (-53.8%)
2008	13	#6626	+4 (44.4%)
2007	9	#8632	0
2005	9	#8038	+1 (12.5%)
2004	8	#8601	+3 (60.0%)
2003	5	#11972	-3 (-37.5%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ladd a boy's or girl's name?

Ladd is primarily a boy's name.

When was Ladd most popular?

Ladd reached its peak popularity in 1961 with 38 births that year. It is currently ranked #4790 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Ladd?

Ladd is currently ranked #4790 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 1,303 babies since 1915.

Explore More

By Length4-letter names By OriginOld English names By EndingNames in -d TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1915–2024