Dalton
Boy name · #448 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Dalton? In official American birth records, Dalton has been tracked continuously since 1881, giving it 144 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Dalton is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". 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. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Dalton is most common in MS (0.9 per 1,000), LA (0.9 per 1,000), TN (0.8 per 1,000), NC (0.8 per 1,000), AL (0.7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.5 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Dalton is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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
How old is the name Dalton?
In official American birth records, the name Dalton first appeared in 1881 (over 144 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.