Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Britton isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1896. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Britton through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 8,293
- 6,337 boys · 1,956 girls
- Most popular year
- 2011
- 216 babies
- 2025
- 70
- #2,771 for boys · #5,271 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −43%
- Cooling
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 65% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 46 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,771 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 43.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 151 in 2006. It also appeared in 24 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (9). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,739 as a first name in 2020; 27,730 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.
Britton’s family of names
Britton has a related form in Brett. In Greek usage, Britton as a surname is a transliteration of Μπρίττον.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Britton
- Britton ChanceAmerican biochemist and Olympic sailor (1913–2010)
- Britton WilsonAmerican athleteborn 2000
- Britton JohnsenAmerican basketball player (born 1979)
- Britton ColquittAmerican football player (born 1985)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Britton, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Payson
Payson is a surname.
50% boys · 50% girls
Bren
“from the high hill; one who ascends” · “a ravenlike woman”
71% boys · 29% girls
Tennyson
“son of Dennis”
61% boys · 39% girls
Kiernan
“having dark features; the little dark one”
69% boys · 31% girls
Channing
“an offficial of the church” · “resembling a young wolf”
65% boys · 35% girls
An
“one who is peaceful”
42% boys · 58% girls
Quin
“woman who is queenly” · “one who provides counsel; an intelligent man”
61% boys · 39% girls
Kimi
Kimi is a feminine given name. It is used in English, Finnish, and Malay.
56% boys · 44% girls