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At a Glance: Name: Dayton – Origin: English (place name, variant spelling of Deighton) – Gender: used for both boys and girls – Pronunciation: DAY-tun
Dayton is an English place name, documented as a variant spelling of Deighton. You may come across the claim that Dayton means 'sunny town,' but that isn't supported by the historical record — the name traces only to Deighton, and its deeper root isn't attested in the sources checked. If you're considering Dayton, it's a name with a real place-name history rather than a settled meaning.
Meaning & Origin of Dayton
Origin: English (place name, variant spelling of Deighton).
A common claim: Dayton means 'sunny town' Actually: There's no etymological basis for 'sunny' — Dayton is documented only as a variant of the place name Deighton, with its ultimate root unattested in the sources checked.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Dayton
Phonetic: DAY-tun IPA: /ˈdeɪtən/
Popularity of Dayton
Dayton peaked in 2008, when 568 babies were given the name and it ranked #486; by 2024 it had dropped to rank #1188, with just 173 babies given the name.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Dayton Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Dayton, 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.
FAQ
What does the name Dayton mean?
Dayton means ‘sunny town’ There’s no etymological basis for ‘sunny’ — Dayton is documented only as a variant of the place name Deighton, with its ultimate root unattested in the sources checked.
How do you pronounce Dayton?
Dayton is pronounced DAY-tun (IPA: /ˈdeɪtən/).
Is Dayton a popular name right now?
Dayton peaked at #486 in 2008 and is ranked #1188 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Dayton? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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