Alton
Boy name · #1602 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Alton? In official American birth records, Alton has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Alton ranks #1602 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 106 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1239, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 16,981 boys born in 2025 was named Alton.
Babies named Alton per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Alton first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 14 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1937, when 836 boys were named Alton — good for #173 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Alton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Alton in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Alton is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Alton will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Alton is most common
State-level data for Alton is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Alton
Statistically, parents drawn to Alton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Anton, Milton, Myron, Elton, and Walton.
AntonMiltonMyronEltonWaltonMarlinEldonAllan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Alton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 106 | #1602 |
| 2024 | 110 | #1573 |
| 2023 | 101 | #1681 |
| 2022 | 86 | #1852 |
| 2021 | 137 | #1349 |
| 2020 | 92 | #1694 |
| 2019 | 134 | #1340 |
| 2018 | 132 | #1352 |
| 2017 | 133 | #1341 |
| 2016 | 148 | #1248 |
| 2015 | 147 | #1239 |
| 2014 | 162 | #1163 |
| 2013 | 152 | #1180 |
| 2012 | 166 | #1111 |
| 2011 | 131 | #1305 |
| 2010 | 122 | #1376 |
| 2009 | 150 | #1202 |
| 2008 | 162 | #1129 |
| 2007 | 165 | #1102 |
| 2006 | 148 | #1144 |
| 2005 | 135 | #1182 |
| 2004 | 147 | #1080 |
| 2003 | 156 | #1012 |
| 2002 | 156 | #998 |
| 2001 | 111 | #1208 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Alton?
In official American birth records, the name Alton first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 14 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Alton a popular boy name?
Alton ranked #1602 among boys in 2025 with 106 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1239.
When was the name Alton most popular?
Alton peaked in 1937, when 836 American boys received the name (ranked #173 that year). Since 1937 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Alton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 16,981 newborn American boys was named Alton. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.