Holding steady.
Popularity of Horton since 1888
Babies named Horton per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1922, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Horton's real moment was 1888.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 13 |
| 1890s | 17 |
| 1900s | 13 |
| 1910s | 137 |
| 1920s | 209 |
| 1930s | 93 |
| 1940s | 70 |
| 1950s | 44 |
| 1960s | 10 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Horton is a rare masculine given name with English surname origins. First recorded in the United States in 1888, the name saw its peak usage that same year, when it ranked 1,168. Since then, it has remained extremely uncommon, having never re-entered the top 1,000 names in any subsequent decade. The name's trajectory is stable, reflecting its persistent obscurity as a first name. Its etymology points to Old English elements meaning "dirty settlement," a humble start for a name kept alive largely through family tradition and occasional use for characters in popular culture. While no top states recorded a significant number of Hortons, the name carries a distinctly vintage, rural English feel.
Horton is an English surname and place name derived from Old English 'horu' (dirt, filth) and 'tūn' (enclosure, settlement), meaning "muddy farm" or "dirty settlement." It originated as a locational surname for someone from any of the many places called Horton across England, such as Horton in Gloucestershire, Yorkshire, and Staffordshire. As a given name, it has been in occasional use since the 19th century, often to honor family surnames.
Sibling names for Horton
Names that share Horton's style, for a brother or sister.
