Declining since 2020, #3,314 for boys today.
Popularity of Stockton since 1917
Babies named Stockton per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 10 |
| 1920s | 0 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 182 |
| 2000s | 392 |
| 2010s | 500 |
| 2020s | 277 |
Meaning & origin
Stockton is a surname-turned-first-name that has seen modest but steady use in the United States since it first appeared in records in 1917. In its peak year of 2020, the name reached its highest popularity to date, reflecting a broader trend of using occupational and place surnames as given names. However, since 2020 the name has been on a downward trajectory, falling in rank to 3,314th as of 2025, where it is given to roughly 1 in 48,802 boys. Stockton is most notably concentrated in Utah, which stands as its top state, a pattern observed among several names of English origin with strong associations in the Mountain West. The name shares stylistic ground with other surname-inspired picks like Cooper, Carson, and Parker, making it a recognizable choice within that modern Americana category. Despite its historical roots in English place names, Stockton remains a distinctly contemporary given name in the United States.
Stockton derives from an Old English place name composed of 'stocc' (a tree stump or log) and 'tūn' (enclosure, settlement). Originally a surname for families from any of several places named Stockton in England, it began to be used as a given name in the United States, especially in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The name gained cultural visibility through basketball legend John Stockton.
Where Stockton is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Sibling names for Stockton
Names that share Stockton's style, for a brother or sister.
