Holding steady.
Popularity of Carleton since 1880
Babies named Carleton per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1923, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Carleton's real moment was 1891.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 42 |
| 1890s | 89 |
| 1900s | 102 |
| 1910s | 582 |
| 1920s | 830 |
| 1930s | 622 |
| 1940s | 599 |
| 1950s | 638 |
| 1960s | 434 |
| 1970s | 337 |
| 1980s | 263 |
| 1990s | 180 |
| 2000s | 99 |
| 2010s | 16 |
| 2020s | 6 |
Meaning & origin
Carleton is a masculine English given name that has been in steady but low-level use since the late 19th century. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1880, the earliest year of Social Security data. The name reached its peak popularity in 1891, and has remained stable since then, never achieving widespread usage. As a surname-origin name, Carleton carries a scholarly, traditional feel. Its relative rarity today gives it a distinctive quality, appealing to parents seeking a classic name that is not overly common.
Carleton is an English surname and given name derived from a place name meaning 'settlement of the free peasants' or 'farmstead of the free men.' It combines Old English 'ceorl' (freeman) and 'tūn' (enclosure, settlement). The name has been in use as a given name since the 19th century, often honoring the surname of notable families or places.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Carl, Carrie
Variants: Carlton
Sibling names for Carleton
Names that share Carleton's style, for a brother or sister.
