Declining since 2015, #3,128 for boys today.
Popularity of Hamilton since 1880
Babies named Hamilton per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2016, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Hamilton's real moment was 1883.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 148 |
| 1890s | 103 |
| 1900s | 144 |
| 1910s | 557 |
| 1920s | 625 |
| 1930s | 387 |
| 1940s | 381 |
| 1950s | 338 |
| 1960s | 352 |
| 1970s | 373 |
| 1980s | 615 |
| 1990s | 691 |
| 2000s | 677 |
| 2010s | 793 |
| 2020s | 333 |
Meaning & origin
Hamilton has seen a notable trajectory shift in recent years. First recorded in 1880, it peaked in 1883, around the time of Alexander Hamilton's historical prominence. After decades of decline, the name experienced a modest revival in the early 2000s, likely influenced by the hit musical 'Hamilton,' but has been falling again since 2015. In 2025, it ranked 3128, a drop from its earlier resurgence. The name is most common in California, reflecting its modern usage. With its strong English and Scottish heritage, Hamilton carries a distinguished, surname-as-first-name appeal that fits with today's trends toward vintage revival names.
Hamilton is a habitational surname derived from the Old English words 'hamel' (crooked) and 'dun' (hill), referring to a place in Leicestershire, England. The name was brought to Scotland by the 13th century and became a prominent surname in Scottish nobility, notably the Dukes of Hamilton. As a given name, it has been used since the 19th century, often in honor of Alexander Hamilton, a Founding Father of the United States.
Where Hamilton 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.
“Hamilton” around the world
Where Hamilton 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: Ham, Hami
Sibling names for Hamilton
Names that share Hamilton's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Charlotte, Eleanor, Clara, Vivian, Beatrice, Charleston
Brothers: William, James, Alexander, Thomas, Benjamin, Lafayette, Washington, Rutherford, Calhoun
