Dayton
Boy name · #1098 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Dayton? In official American birth records, Dayton has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Dayton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Dayton in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Dayton is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". 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. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Dayton is most common in KS (0.7 per 1,000), MI (0.3 per 1,000), TX (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Dayton is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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
How old is the name Dayton?
In official American birth records, the name Dayton first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.