Colten
Boy name · #968 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Colten? In official American birth records, Colten has been tracked continuously since 1978, giving it 47 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 238 baby boys were named Colten, placing it at #968 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #549, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 7,563 boys born in 2025 was named Colten.
The 47-year story
Colten first appears in the Social Security records in 1978, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2009, when 757 boys were named Colten — good for #395 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Colten per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Colten against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Colten in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Colten is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Colten will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Colten is most common
Geography matters for names, and Colten is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Colten is most common in KY (0.5 per 1,000), IN (0.5 per 1,000), MI (0.4 per 1,000), TN (0.3 per 1,000), OH (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Colten is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Colten
Statistically, parents drawn to Colten tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Cullen, Kolten, Adrien, Draven, and Kellen.
CullenKoltenAdrienDravenKellenJulienCaidenAshten
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Colten | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 238 | #965 |
| 2024 | 263 | #899 |
| 2023 | 250 | #921 |
| 2022 | 250 | #923 |
| 2021 | 276 | #852 |
| 2020 | 320 | #755 |
| 2019 | 362 | #694 |
| 2018 | 384 | #658 |
| 2017 | 362 | #687 |
| 2016 | 443 | #608 |
| 2015 | 521 | #549 |
| 2014 | 608 | #474 |
| 2013 | 648 | #443 |
| 2012 | 721 | #406 |
| 2011 | 750 | #386 |
| 2010 | 729 | #389 |
| 2009 | 757 | #395 |
| 2008 | 724 | #410 |
| 2007 | 585 | #465 |
| 2006 | 505 | #513 |
| 2005 | 404 | #577 |
| 2004 | 391 | #577 |
| 2003 | 363 | #594 |
| 2002 | 395 | #564 |
| 2001 | 399 | #541 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Colten?
In official American birth records, the name Colten first appeared in 1978 (over 47 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 47 years.
Is Colten a popular boy name?
Colten ranked #968 among boys in 2025 with 238 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #549.
When was the name Colten most popular?
Colten peaked in 2009, when 757 American boys received the name (ranked #395 that year). Since 2009 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Colten?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 7,563 newborn American boys was named Colten. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.