Holding steady, #7,194 for boys today.
Popularity of Bolton since 1905
Babies named Bolton per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2017, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Bolton's real moment was 1905.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 6 |
| 1910s | 0 |
| 1920s | 0 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 11 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 36 |
| 2000s | 38 |
| 2010s | 93 |
| 2020s | 60 |
Meaning & origin
Bolton has never been a common given name, peaking in 1905, its first recorded year of use. Since then, it has remained exceptionally rare, with a current one-in-155,280 rate of occurrence in 2025. As a surname-turned-first-name, it fits the trend of using English place names as personal names. Its consistent rarity and straightforward pronunciation give it a distinctive, no-nonsense quality that appeals to parents seeking an uncommon name with traditional roots.
Bolton is an English surname and place name derived from Old English 'bothl' (dwelling) and 'tūn' (settlement). It originally referred to someone from any of several places named Bolton in northern England. As a given name, it has seen occasional use, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Bolty
Sibling names for Bolton
Names that share Bolton's style, for a brother or sister.
