Declining since 1994, #3,513 for boys today.
Popularity of Denton since 1881
Babies named Denton per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1994, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Denton's real moment was 1897.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 13 |
| 1890s | 9 |
| 1900s | 10 |
| 1910s | 273 |
| 1920s | 389 |
| 1930s | 408 |
| 1940s | 471 |
| 1950s | 423 |
| 1960s | 359 |
| 1970s | 397 |
| 1980s | 516 |
| 1990s | 670 |
| 2000s | 527 |
| 2010s | 478 |
| 2020s | 200 |
Meaning & origin
Denton is a surname-derived first name with English roots, first recorded as a given name in the United States in 1881. Its strongest era was the 1890s: it peaked in 1897, when it ranked highest in popularity. Although the name has been steadily declining since 1994, it still holds a traditional, sturdy appeal for families who value understated vintage names. In 2025, Denton was given to roughly one in 53,377 boys, placing it at rank 3,513. While not widely used in any specific state today, its historical usage was most common in the Midwest and South. Denton carries the straightforward meaning of a topographic or locational surname, evoking a sense of place without being tied to any particular famous bearer.
Denton is an English surname-turned-first-name, derived from place names meaning 'town in a valley' (from Old English denu 'valley' + tūn 'enclosure, settlement') or 'Dunn's settlement' (from the Old English personal name Dunn + tūn). The name has been used as a given name since the 19th century, particularly in the United States, and saw its greatest popularity in the 1890s.
Where Denton 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: Den, Denny
Sibling names for Denton
Names that share Denton's style, for a brother or sister.
