A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Walton since 1880
Babies named Walton per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1922, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Walton's real moment was 1892.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 80 |
| 1890s | 119 |
| 1900s | 134 |
| 1910s | 824 |
| 1920s | 1,094 |
| 1930s | 743 |
| 1940s | 702 |
| 1950s | 568 |
| 1960s | 349 |
| 1970s | 273 |
| 1980s | 184 |
| 1990s | 157 |
| 2000s | 187 |
| 2010s | 239 |
| 2020s | 236 |
Meaning & origin
Walton is a surname-based given name with an English locational origin, meaning 'settlement of the Welsh.' It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1880 and saw a peak in popularity around 1892. After a long period of decline, the name has been rising since 2010, reaching a rank of 2,421 in 2025 with a frequency of 1 in 30,501. The name has historically been most common in Tennessee and Georgia, reflecting a stronghold in the American South. Its revival may be part of a broader trend of reviving old-fashioned surname names from the turn of the century.
Walton is an English surname derived from place names meaning 'settlement of the Welsh' (Old English 'Wealas' + 'tun'). It originated as a locational name for someone who lived in or near a town inhabited by Britons or Celts. As a given name, it gained modest use in the 19th and early 20th centuries, especially in the southern United States.
Where Walton 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.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Walt, Walty
Sibling names for Walton
Names that share Walton's style, for a brother or sister.
