Alton

At a Glance: Name: Alton – Meaning: settlement at the source of a river (Old English 'river source' + 'settlement, town') – Origin: English (place name/surname) – Gender: used for both boys and girls

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Alton is an English name that started as a place name and surname before becoming a first name — literally describing a settlement at the source of a river. If you like names with a grounded, geographic meaning rather than an abstract one, this is about as literal as it gets.

Meaning & Origin of Alton

Meaning: Settlement at the source of a river (old english 'river source' + 'settlement, town').

Origin: English (place name/surname).

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

Popularity of Alton

Alton peaked at #78 in 1904 with 302 babies given the name that year, and by 2024 it had fallen to #1566 with just 110 — a long, steady decline over 120 years.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Alton Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Alton, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Lester
• Odessa
• Virgil
• Ester
• Cecil
• Winslow

FAQ

What does the name Alton mean?

Settlement at the source of a river (old english ‘river source’ + ‘settlement, town’). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Alton)

Is Alton a popular name right now?

Alton peaked at #78 in 1904 and is ranked #1566 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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