Alton

Alton - A very unique male name

Alton appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #209. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Alton and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Alton? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Alton. The baby boy name Alton was given to 38 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1901 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 38,586 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Alton peaked in popularity 89 years ago in 1937 on position 174.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Alton, 1-5?

Alton is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Alton is currently topping the baby name charts in Indiana at position #852 - and is the least popular in California at position #2,006.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Alton is where you live.

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Alton origin and meaning

English surname and place name

A transferred place name and surname, from Old English elements read as 'old town' or 'town at the (river) source' — the exact compound varies by place

Alton is the name of several English places carried into use as a surname and then a given name; because different Altons come from different Old English compounds, no single meaning covers them all. It peaked in the US in 1937 and has drifted down since.

Origin uncertain

Alton is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Alton, pop culture references for the name Alton and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Alton

We've found the following names that sound similar to Alton, sorted by popularity.

Alden / Aldin / Aldon / Ailton / Aldean / Altin / Aldine / Altonio / Aladdin /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Alton

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Alton a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Alton?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

AWL-tun · /ˈɔltən/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Elton — A similar-sounding but separate name and surname.

Famous bearers

• Alton Brown — American television chef and host of Good Eats (b. 1962) Contemporary

Style

SurnamePlace nameClassic

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Alton for a sturdy, surname-style name with a vintage profile. It is rare and gently falling.

Worth knowing

• Often confused with Elton.