Carlton
Boy name · #2884 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Carlton? In official American birth records, Carlton has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 43 baby boys were named Carlton, placing it at #2884 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1613, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 41,860 boys born in 2025 was named Carlton.
The 145-year story
Carlton first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 13 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1957, when 955 boys were named Carlton — good for #246 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 Carlton per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Carlton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Carlton in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Carlton is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Carlton will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Carlton is most common
State-level data for Carlton 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 Carlton
Statistically, parents drawn to Carlton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Stanton, Clifton, Theron, Alton, and Loren.
StantonCliftonTheronAltonLorenDaronCliffRickey
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Carlton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 43 | #2884 |
| 2024 | 46 | #2789 |
| 2023 | 48 | #2693 |
| 2022 | 37 | #3216 |
| 2021 | 55 | #2439 |
| 2020 | 61 | #2235 |
| 2019 | 69 | #2081 |
| 2018 | 64 | #2167 |
| 2017 | 72 | #1977 |
| 2016 | 82 | #1828 |
| 2015 | 99 | #1613 |
| 2014 | 88 | #1714 |
| 2013 | 87 | #1695 |
| 2012 | 100 | #1575 |
| 2011 | 102 | #1544 |
| 2010 | 122 | #1376 |
| 2009 | 114 | #1459 |
| 2008 | 128 | #1343 |
| 2007 | 146 | #1206 |
| 2006 | 143 | #1178 |
| 2005 | 180 | #967 |
| 2004 | 137 | #1144 |
| 2003 | 154 | #1024 |
| 2002 | 175 | #917 |
| 2001 | 208 | #805 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Carlton?
In official American birth records, the name Carlton first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 13 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Carlton a popular boy name?
Carlton ranked #2884 among boys in 2025 with 43 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1613.
When was the name Carlton most popular?
Carlton peaked in 1957, when 955 American boys received the name (ranked #246 that year). Since 1957 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Carlton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 41,860 newborn American boys was named Carlton. 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.