Milton

Boy name · #1436 in 2025 · Uniqueness 71/100

Milton is currently the #1436 boy name in the United States — 125 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1205, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 14,400 boys born in 2025 was named Milton.

The 145-year story

Milton first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 149 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1920, when 2,592 boys were named Milton — good for #74 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.

Babies named Milton per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.

Where is Milton headed by 2030?
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Milton against up to 5 other names.
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Uniqueness: will there be another Milton in class?

Milton scores 71 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 Milton will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.

Where Milton is most common

Geography matters for names, and Milton is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Miltons were CA (15), TX (15), GA (8), NC (8), PA (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 Milton

Statistically, parents drawn to Milton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Marion, Elton, Anton, Vernon, and Alton.

MarionEltonAntonVernonAltonMyronWaltonMelvin

Rank history (last 25 years)

YearBabies named MiltonRank
2025125#1436
2024128#1426
2023128#1420
2022153#1264
2021136#1360
2020144#1271
2019149#1258
2018153#1219
2017167#1138
2016149#1245
2015153#1205
2014175#1093
2013171#1088
2012168#1106
2011159#1136
2010188#1031
2009190#1024
2008218#932
2007222#901
2006238#846
2005231#817
2004244#754
2003243#741
2002260#696
2001264#683

Frequently asked questions

Is Milton a popular boy name?

Milton ranked #1436 among boys in 2025 with 125 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1205.

When was the name Milton most popular?

Milton peaked in 1920, when 2,592 American boys received the name (ranked #74 that year). Since 1920 the name has declined from that high.

How rare is the name Milton?

In 2025, roughly 1 in 14,400 newborn American boys was named Milton. It scores 71/100 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.