Garfield as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Garfield

What is the meaning of the name Garfield ?

The baby name Garfield is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced GAR-feeld; IPA: /ˈɡɑːrfiːld/ (US), /ˈɡɑːfɪld/ (UK).

Garfield is English in Origin.

Garfield is an English surname-turned-given name derived from a toponym: Old English gara (“triangular piece of land, gore”) + feld (“open country, field”). The composite likely described a wedge-shaped field, so the name’s meaning is “triangular field” or “gore field.” As with many habitational surnames, Garfield signaled origin from such a landscape feature before transitioning to personal name use.

As a given name, it rose sharply in the United States in 1881 in honor of President James A. Garfield, then faded through the 20th century. Since 1978, its cultural association with the comic-strip cat has made it familiar but rare for babies, lending it a quirky, vintage-Americana feel. The name remains largely unchanged across languages, with variant spellings uncommon. Nicknames and short forms include Gar, Gary, Gerry, Field, and Garfie, offering both brisk and playful options for everyday use.