Declining since 2008, #1,097 for boys today.
Popularity of Dayton since 1880
Babies named Dayton per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 45 |
| 1890s | 80 |
| 1900s | 54 |
| 1910s | 518 |
| 1920s | 756 |
| 1930s | 609 |
| 1940s | 509 |
| 1950s | 453 |
| 1960s | 339 |
| 1970s | 386 |
| 1980s | 590 |
| 1990s | 2,212 |
| 2000s | 4,782 |
| 2010s | 3,259 |
| 2020s | 1,167 |
Meaning & origin
Dayton has been in steady use as a given name since 1880, but its real surge came in the 2000s, peaking at rank 337 in 2008. Since then it has fallen to rank 1097 in 2025, with about 1 in 8,759 newborn boys receiving the name that year. Its top states have been Kansas, Arkansas, and Colorado, reflecting a Midwestern and Southern lean. The name's trajectory shows it has been falling since its peak, but it remains a recognizable place-name choice for modern parents.
Dayton is an English surname derived from place names such as Dayton in Ohio, probably from the Old English personal name Dæi or Dæga combined with tūn meaning 'enclosure, settlement'. As a given name, it gained popularity in the United States during the late 20th century, often chosen for its place-name appeal.
Where Dayton 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.
“Dayton” around the world
Where Dayton lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Day
Sibling names for Dayton
Names that share Dayton's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Dayton
Names whose popularity has moved with Dayton's over the last 50 years.
