Declining since 1985, #4,396 for boys today.
Popularity of Burton since 1880
Babies named Burton per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 348 |
| 1890s | 313 |
| 1900s | 404 |
| 1910s | 2,741 |
| 1920s | 5,225 |
| 1930s | 4,273 |
| 1940s | 2,960 |
| 1950s | 1,998 |
| 1960s | 1,560 |
| 1970s | 980 |
| 1980s | 673 |
| 1990s | 323 |
| 2000s | 250 |
| 2010s | 279 |
| 2020s | 159 |
Meaning & origin
Burton is a surname-turned-first name with a sturdy, place-name origin. After English settlement, it arrived in America as both a family name and occasional given name. Its peak in the Social Security data came in 1925, when it ranked higher than it ever has since. As of 2025, Burton is quite rare, with only a 1-in-74,264 chance of a newborn receiving it. The name has been on a downward trajectory since 1985, typical of many early-20th-century favorites. Though it lacks current top-state popularity, its historical use was spread across the country, especially in the Midwest and Northeast.
Burton is a habitational surname transferred to first name use, derived from any of the many places in England named Burton. Those place names come from Old English 'burh' (fortress) and 'tun' (enclosure, settlement). As a given name, it saw most use in the United States during the early 20th century.
Where Burton 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: Bert, Burt
Variants: Berton
Sibling names for Burton
Names that share Burton's style, for a brother or sister.
