Dalton
Boy name · #448 in 2025 · Uniqueness 51/100
Dalton ranks #448 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 699 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #328, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,575 boys born in 2025 was named Dalton.
Babies named Dalton per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 144-year story
Dalton first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 4,565 boys were named Dalton — good for #88 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Dalton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Dalton in class?
Dalton scores 51 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 Dalton is most common
Geography matters for names, and Dalton is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Daltons were TX (47), FL (46), NC (39), CA (34), OH (31). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Dalton
Statistically, parents drawn to Dalton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Devin, Clayton, Devon, Dillon, and Keaton.
DevinClaytonDevonDillonKeatonQuintonDaytonTrenton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Dalton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 699 | #448 |
| 2024 | 732 | #433 |
| 2023 | 582 | #513 |
| 2022 | 574 | #516 |
| 2021 | 566 | #519 |
| 2020 | 638 | #463 |
| 2019 | 686 | #444 |
| 2018 | 799 | #397 |
| 2017 | 893 | #371 |
| 2016 | 1,050 | #328 |
| 2015 | 1,050 | #328 |
| 2014 | 1,118 | #312 |
| 2013 | 1,106 | #310 |
| 2012 | 1,232 | #284 |
| 2011 | 1,267 | #276 |
| 2010 | 1,332 | #260 |
| 2009 | 1,476 | #239 |
| 2008 | 1,736 | #218 |
| 2007 | 1,836 | #212 |
| 2006 | 1,939 | #200 |
| 2005 | 2,256 | #180 |
| 2004 | 2,454 | #167 |
| 2003 | 2,857 | #143 |
| 2002 | 3,284 | #117 |
| 2001 | 3,895 | #98 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Dalton a popular boy name?
Dalton ranked #448 among boys in 2025 with 699 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #328.
When was the name Dalton most popular?
Dalton peaked in 1998, when 4,565 American boys received the name (ranked #88 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Dalton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,575 newborn American boys was named Dalton. It scores 51/100 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.