Skip to main content
 
Namesake

A name chosen, not stumbled upon.

Explore
  • All Names
  • Celtic Names
  • Norse Names
  • Rising Names
  • Gender-Neutral Names
More lists
  • Name Collections
  • Hebrew & Biblical
  • Nature Names
  • Literary Names
  • Rare & Beautiful
  • Classic Names
Guides
  • How to Choose a Name
  • Baby Name Checklist
  • Partner Disagreement
  • Popularity Data
  • Pronunciation Test

Made with love for growing families.

PrivacyTermsContactOur storyHow it works

© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Cardiff — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Cardier|Cardin
WelshBoy→ Stable

Cardiff

KAR-dif · 2 syllables

Share Cardiff:
Compare with another name
Boy
#12603
→ Stable
#12603
in the US · 2024
Popularity score: 5
Peak rank
#9122 in 2022
5yr change
—
Birth frequency
1.4 per 1,000,000 births
Sex split
100% boy · 0% girl

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20222024

Rank #12603 · Falling since 2022

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
Welsh boy names
Cardiff

Popularity score: 5  ·  SSA Rank: #12603

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
62
Higher than 62% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
→ Stable
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
55
27 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Cardiff scores well on meaning depth but there are tradeoffs — domain availability is limited.

Meaning Depth37% of score
60
Name Trend28% of score
60
Uniqueness20% of score
55
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
Welsh OriginPlace NameGeographyClassicRegalBritish2-syllableStrongBoy-leaningUncommonLiterary Feel
Character
historic strengthwelsh pridesteadfast resiliencecommunity spirit
STRONG
High confidence

Cardiff is a Welsh boy name with steady SSA rankings. It ranked #12603 in the US in 2024.

Trend:→ Stable
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:#12603 · very rare
Cardiff at a Glance
Meaning:From Welsh 'Caerdydd', combining 'caer' (fort) and 'diff' (related to Taff River), the capital city of Wales with a rich medieval history.
Language root:Welsh · Old English
Peak rank:#9122 in 2022
5yr change:—
Sex usage:100% boy · 0% girl
Notable bearers
Cardiff
Capital city of Wales
Similar Sound
CardiganCadelCalder◈GarrettCarrick
Similar Style
EdinburghBristol◈Ashton◈Sutton◈Berkeley◈
Works well with
EvelynRowan◈Greyson◈Finley◈ScarlettJasper◈HazelOwen
You Might Also Like
Ashton◈
English · #188
↓ Declining
Dylan
Welsh · #28
→ Stable
Rhys
Welsh · #354
→ Stable
Reece
Welsh · #455
→ Stable
Idris
Welsh · #739
↑ Rising
Jones
Welsh · #849
↑↑ Surging
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Name Intelligence
Cardiff · Overview
Summary

Cardiff is a Welsh boy name with steady SSA rankings. It ranked #12603 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 2/100 → Stable

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Cardiff scores 62/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Classic · Regal character
Cardiff carries a bold, grounded quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Domain taken
cardiff.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
Explore

Add to watchlists or your list with + Save next to the name above.

Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
Namesake
Name WizardName CollectionsAll NamesName CascadeBaby ShowerMy Name List

Still deciding?

Every naming product helps you find names. Namesake is the only one built to help you choose one.

Score what matters to you. Run names head-to-head. Arrive at the one name you can both explain and defend.

Start the Name Wizard →