Milton
Boy name · #1436 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Milton? In official American birth records, Milton has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Milton is currently the #1436 boy name in the United States — 125 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1205, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 14,400 boys born in 2025 was named Milton.
The 145-year story
Milton first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 149 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1920, when 2,592 boys were named Milton — good for #74 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 Milton per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Milton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Milton in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Milton is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Milton will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Milton is most common
State-level data for Milton 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 Milton
Statistically, parents drawn to Milton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Marion, Elton, Anton, Vernon, and Alton.
MarionEltonAntonVernonAltonMyronWaltonMelvin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Milton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 125 | #1436 |
| 2024 | 128 | #1426 |
| 2023 | 128 | #1420 |
| 2022 | 153 | #1264 |
| 2021 | 136 | #1360 |
| 2020 | 144 | #1271 |
| 2019 | 149 | #1258 |
| 2018 | 153 | #1219 |
| 2017 | 167 | #1138 |
| 2016 | 149 | #1245 |
| 2015 | 153 | #1205 |
| 2014 | 175 | #1093 |
| 2013 | 171 | #1088 |
| 2012 | 168 | #1106 |
| 2011 | 159 | #1136 |
| 2010 | 188 | #1031 |
| 2009 | 190 | #1024 |
| 2008 | 218 | #932 |
| 2007 | 222 | #901 |
| 2006 | 238 | #846 |
| 2005 | 231 | #817 |
| 2004 | 244 | #754 |
| 2003 | 243 | #741 |
| 2002 | 260 | #696 |
| 2001 | 264 | #683 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Milton?
In official American birth records, the name Milton first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 149 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Milton a popular boy name?
Milton ranked #1436 among boys in 2025 with 125 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1205.
When was the name Milton most popular?
Milton peaked in 1920, when 2,592 American boys received the name (ranked #74 that year). Since 1920 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Milton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 14,400 newborn American boys was named Milton. 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.