Given name & surname
Charlton
“from the free man's town”
Charlton is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the free man's town.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “from the free man's town.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is 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.
Charlton through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,535
- 3,530 boys · 5 girls
- Most popular year
- 1971
- 82 babies
- 2025
- 15
- #5,902 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −25%
- Easing
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 15 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 5,902 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 25.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 82 in 1971. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,610 as a first name in 2020; 9,907 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.
Charlton’s family of names
In English usage, Charlton as a surname shares an earlier linguistic root with Carlton. Charlton has a related form in Charleston. Charlton has a related form in Charleton.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Charlton
- Charlton HestonAmerican actor (1923–2008)
- The Kid LaroiAustralian rapper and singer (born 2003)
- Charlton VicentoCuraçaoan footballerborn 1991
- Charlton Thomas LewisUS lexicographer (1834–1904)
- Charlton NyirendaMalawian swimmer (* 1988)
- Charlton BeattieUnited States federal judge1869–1925
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Charlton, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Shelton
“from the farm on the ledge”
>99% boys
Chadwick
“from Chad's dairy farm”
>99% boys
Vinson
“the son of Vincent”
>99% boys
Chad
“one who is warlike”
>99% boys
Marlon
“resembling a little hawk”
>99% boys
Daron
“the great one” · “from a small rocky hill”
>99% boys
Clifton
“cliff”
>99% boys
Chauncey
“an office holder; keeper of records” · “having good fortune”
>99% boys