Alton
Boy name · #1602 in 2025 · Uniqueness 64/100
Alton ranks #1602 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 106 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1239, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 16,981 boys born in 2025 was named Alton.
Babies named Alton per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Alton first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 14 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1937, when 836 boys were named Alton — good for #173 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Alton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Alton in class?
Alton scores 64 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Alton is most common
Geography matters for names, and Alton is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Altons were TX (10), NC (9), CA (7), FL (6), IN (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Alton
Statistically, parents drawn to Alton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Anton, Milton, Myron, Elton, and Walton.
AntonMiltonMyronEltonWaltonMarlinEldonAllan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Alton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 106 | #1602 |
| 2024 | 110 | #1573 |
| 2023 | 101 | #1681 |
| 2022 | 86 | #1852 |
| 2021 | 137 | #1349 |
| 2020 | 92 | #1694 |
| 2019 | 134 | #1340 |
| 2018 | 132 | #1352 |
| 2017 | 133 | #1341 |
| 2016 | 148 | #1248 |
| 2015 | 147 | #1239 |
| 2014 | 162 | #1163 |
| 2013 | 152 | #1180 |
| 2012 | 166 | #1111 |
| 2011 | 131 | #1305 |
| 2010 | 122 | #1376 |
| 2009 | 150 | #1202 |
| 2008 | 162 | #1129 |
| 2007 | 165 | #1102 |
| 2006 | 148 | #1144 |
| 2005 | 135 | #1182 |
| 2004 | 147 | #1080 |
| 2003 | 156 | #1012 |
| 2002 | 156 | #998 |
| 2001 | 111 | #1208 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Alton a popular boy name?
Alton ranked #1602 among boys in 2025 with 106 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1239.
When was the name Alton most popular?
Alton peaked in 1937, when 836 American boys received the name (ranked #173 that year). Since 1937 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Alton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 16,981 newborn American boys was named Alton. It scores 64/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.