Holding steady.
Popularity of Linton since 1883
Babies named Linton per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1922, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Linton's real moment was 1889.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 33 |
| 1890s | 28 |
| 1900s | 36 |
| 1910s | 231 |
| 1920s | 358 |
| 1930s | 301 |
| 1940s | 365 |
| 1950s | 308 |
| 1960s | 212 |
| 1970s | 153 |
| 1980s | 141 |
| 1990s | 79 |
| 2000s | 48 |
| 2010s | 56 |
| 2020s | 11 |
Meaning & origin
Linton is a rare English given name with locational roots, meaning 'flax settlement.' It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1883, and its peak year of use was 1889, though even then it never entered the top 1000. The name has remained stable over time, neither rising nor falling dramatically in usage. Because it is so unusual, Linton offers a distinctive choice for parents seeking a surname-style first name with historical depth. Its similarity to the more common Lyndon may cause occasional confusion, but Linton stands on its own as a quiet, underused classic.
Linton is an English surname and place name derived from Old English 'līn' (flax) and 'tūn' (enclosure, settlement), meaning 'flax settlement.' It originated as a locational surname for people from one of several villages named Linton in England, such as in Cambridgeshire, Herefordshire, and Yorkshire. As a given name, it gained modest use in the 19th century, often as a family surname passed to sons.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lin, Lint
Variants: Lyndon
Sibling names for Linton
Names that share Linton's style, for a brother or sister.
