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At a Glance
- 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
- Pronunciation
- AWL-tun
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.
How to Pronounce Alton
AWL-tunIPA /ˈɔːltən/
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.
Names Like Alton
Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.
FAQ
What does the name Alton mean?
Settlement at the source of a river (Old English ‘river source’ + ‘settlement, town’). (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Alton?
Alton is pronounced AWL-tun (IPA: /ˈɔːltən/).
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.)
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.
📊 How popular is Alton? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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