Dayton
Boy name · #1098 in 2025 · Uniqueness 67/100
Dayton ranks #1098 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 195 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #764, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 9,231 boys born in 2025 was named Dayton.
The 145-year story
Dayton first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 568 boys were named Dayton — good for #486 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.
Babies named Dayton per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Dayton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Dayton in class?
Dayton scores 67 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Dayton will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Dayton is most common
Geography matters for names, and Dayton is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Daytons were TX (21), MI (11), KS (10), CO (8), MO (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Dayton
Statistically, parents drawn to Dayton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Keaton, Trenton, Peyton, Davion, and Drayton.
KeatonTrentonPeytonDavionDraytonPaytonDravenLeyton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Dayton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 195 | #1097 |
| 2024 | 175 | #1181 |
| 2023 | 183 | #1144 |
| 2022 | 198 | #1093 |
| 2021 | 198 | #1075 |
| 2020 | 218 | #979 |
| 2019 | 238 | #919 |
| 2018 | 264 | #844 |
| 2017 | 264 | #837 |
| 2016 | 246 | #888 |
| 2015 | 312 | #764 |
| 2014 | 352 | #702 |
| 2013 | 338 | #702 |
| 2012 | 423 | #598 |
| 2011 | 394 | #612 |
| 2010 | 428 | #586 |
| 2009 | 519 | #521 |
| 2008 | 568 | #486 |
| 2007 | 515 | #512 |
| 2006 | 469 | #538 |
| 2005 | 456 | #533 |
| 2004 | 483 | #508 |
| 2003 | 486 | #502 |
| 2002 | 463 | #498 |
| 2001 | 452 | #506 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Dayton a popular boy name?
Dayton ranked #1098 among boys in 2025 with 195 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #764.
When was the name Dayton most popular?
Dayton peaked in 2008, when 568 American boys received the name (ranked #486 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Dayton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 9,231 newborn American boys was named Dayton. It scores 67/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
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.