Declining since 1987, #1,602 for boys today.
Popularity of Alton since 1880
Babies named Alton per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1937, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Alton's real moment was 1904.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 191 |
| 1890s | 276 |
| 1900s | 1,102 |
| 1910s | 4,417 |
| 1920s | 7,243 |
| 1930s | 7,215 |
| 1940s | 6,373 |
| 1950s | 5,989 |
| 1960s | 4,376 |
| 1970s | 2,855 |
| 1980s | 2,211 |
| 1990s | 1,684 |
| 2000s | 1,466 |
| 2010s | 1,427 |
| 2020s | 632 |
Meaning & origin
Alton is a traditional English locative name that enjoyed its greatest popularity around 1904, when it ranked highest among baby boys. Since 1987, its usage has been steadily declining, and as of 2025 it sits at rank 1,602, with an incidence of about 1 in 16,114. The name has seen some regional concentration in Indiana, North Carolina, and Florida. Alton has a straightforward feel, often shortened to Al, and fits alongside other turn-of-the-century names. Its meaning, tied to 'old town' or a river source, gives it a grounded, geographic quality.
Alton is an English locative surname and given name derived from place names meaning 'old town' (from Old English 'ald' + 'tun') or 'settlement by the source of a river' (from 'æwell' + 'tun'). First recorded as a given name in the U.S. in 1880, it saw peak usage in the early 1900s.
Where Alton is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Al
Sibling names for Alton
Names that share Alton's style, for a brother or sister.
