Given name & surname · also American
Hamilton
“a dreamer; one who is wishful”·“from the flat-topped hill”
Hamilton is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “a dreamer; one who is wishful” (American) and “from the flat-topped hill” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a dreamer; one who is wishful” (American) and “from the flat-topped hill” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with American and English naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Hamilton through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 6,517
- 6,517 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2016
- 98 babies
- 2025
- 38
- #3,152 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −30%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 38 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,152 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 30.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 98 in 2016. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,608 as a first name in 2020; 194,450 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.
Hamilton’s family of names
In English usage, Hamilton has a diminutive in HAMMY. In Portuguese usage, Hamilton has a related form in AMILTON. In Portuguese usage, Hamilton has a related form in Amílton.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 15
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Hamilton
- Hamilton O. SmithAmerican microbiologist (1931–2025)
- Hámilton RicardColombian association football playerborn 1974
- Hamilton FishAmerican politician (1808–1893)
- Hamilton Mourãovice president of Brazil from 2019 to 2023 and Senator of the Republic for the state of Rio Grande do Sul since 2023.born 1953
- H. A. R. GibbScottish orientalist (1895–1971)
- Hamilton LuskeAmerican film director (1903-1968)
- Hamilton CampBritish actor (1934–2005)
- Hamilton HumeAustralian explorer (1797–1873)
- Hamilton HartyIrish composer, conductor, pianist and organist1879–1941
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Hamilton, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Harrison
“son of Harry” · “the son of Harry”
>99% boys
Hampton
“from the home town”
85% boys · 15% girls
Maicon
Maicon is a masculine given name from English. It is used in Portuguese.
>99% boys
Paxton
“from the peaceful town”
95% boys · 5% girls
Anderson
“the son of Andrew”
91% boys · 9% girls
Easton
“a wholesome woman” · “from the eastern town”
99% boys · 1% girls
Holden
“one who is willing and eager” · “from the hollow in the valley”
99% boys · 1% girls
Yeison
Yeison is a given name from English. It is used in Spanish.
>99% boys