Declining since 2016, #6,803 for boys today.
Popularity of Fenton since 1883
Babies named Fenton per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1922, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Fenton's real moment was 1895.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 12 |
| 1890s | 26 |
| 1900s | 72 |
| 1910s | 230 |
| 1920s | 317 |
| 1930s | 196 |
| 1940s | 176 |
| 1950s | 185 |
| 1960s | 161 |
| 1970s | 82 |
| 1980s | 80 |
| 1990s | 46 |
| 2000s | 135 |
| 2010s | 253 |
| 2020s | 75 |
Meaning & origin
Fenton is an uncommon English name derived from place names meaning 'marsh town.' Its peak popularity occurred in 1895, reflecting a broader trend for surname-style given names in the late 19th century. Since 2016, the name has been on a downward trajectory, and in 2025 it ranked 6803rd with just 1 in 142,340 newborns receiving the name. Fenton has not been recorded among the top states in recent years, indicating its use is widely scattered. As a rare choice, it offers a distinctive, surname-derived option with a bit of Old English flavor.
Fenton is derived from various English place names composed of the Old English elements 'fenn' meaning 'marsh, fen' and 'tun' meaning 'enclosure, settlement.' It thus originally denoted someone who lived near or came from a marsh settlement. The name has been in use as a given name since the 19th century, though it remains relatively uncommon.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Fen
Sibling names for Fenton
Names that share Fenton's style, for a brother or sister.
