Given name & surname · also Old English
Alton
“from the old town”
Alton is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the old town.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “from the old town.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Old English.
How it developed
It entered given-name use through an existing surname.
The story
Its naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name.
Alton through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 47,832
- 47,457 boys · 375 girls
- Most popular year
- 1937
- 836 babies
- 2025
- 106
- #1,602 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −15%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 106 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,602 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 15.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 836 in 1937. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (10). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 20,582 as a first name in 2020; 3,858 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Alton’s family of names
In English usage, Alton has a related form in Alston. Alton has a related form in Aldon. Alton has a related form in Aldun.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Alton
- Glenn MillerAmerican band leader, arranger, and composer (1904–1944)
- Alton B. ParkerAmerican judge (1852–1926)
- Alton EllisJamaican musician (1938–2008)
- Alton BrownAmerican chef, author and musicianborn 1962
- Alton ListerAmerican basketball player (born 1958)
- Alto of AltomünsterIrish monk701–760
- Alton LennonAmerican politician (1906-1986)
- Alton FordAmerican basketball player (1981-2018)
- Alton Kelleyartist (1940–2008)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Alton, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Eldon
“from the sacred hill”
>99% boys
Alvin
“friend of the elves”
>99% boys
Delton
“from the town in the valley”
>99% boys
Elvin
“a friend of the elves”
>99% boys
Alfred
“one who counsels the elves”
>99% boys
Franklin
“a free man; a landholder”
99% boys · 1% girls
Joe
“God will add” · “God shall add”
>99% boys
Radford
“from the red ford”
>99% boys