Elton
Boy name · #2304 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Elton? In official American birth records, Elton has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Elton ranks #2304 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 60 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2189, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 30,000 boys born in 2025 was named Elton.
Babies named Elton per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Elton first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1920, when 394 boys were named Elton — good for #281 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 Elton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Elton in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Elton is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Elton will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Elton is most common
State-level data for Elton 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 Elton
Statistically, parents drawn to Elton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Eldon, Walton, Milton, Anton, and Alton.
EldonWaltonMiltonAntonAltonGastonErwinWeldon
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Elton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 60 | #2304 |
| 2024 | 72 | #2078 |
| 2023 | 69 | #2113 |
| 2022 | 80 | #1938 |
| 2021 | 111 | #1565 |
| 2020 | 90 | #1716 |
| 2019 | 80 | #1868 |
| 2018 | 73 | #1994 |
| 2017 | 51 | #2493 |
| 2016 | 59 | #2255 |
| 2015 | 62 | #2189 |
| 2014 | 66 | #2098 |
| 2013 | 45 | #2623 |
| 2012 | 55 | #2326 |
| 2011 | 61 | #2145 |
| 2010 | 56 | #2287 |
| 2009 | 64 | #2119 |
| 2008 | 64 | #2125 |
| 2007 | 57 | #2281 |
| 2006 | 68 | #1967 |
| 2005 | 65 | #1943 |
| 2004 | 81 | #1604 |
| 2003 | 51 | #2153 |
| 2002 | 76 | #1596 |
| 2001 | 72 | #1629 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Elton?
In official American birth records, the name Elton first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Elton a popular boy name?
Elton ranked #2304 among boys in 2025 with 60 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2189.
When was the name Elton most popular?
Elton peaked in 1920, when 394 American boys received the name (ranked #281 that year). Since 1920 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Elton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 30,000 newborn American boys was named Elton. 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.