Home › Baby Names Directory › Colten

Colten

♂ Boy

Pronounced KOHL-ten /ˈkoʊl.tən/High

Meaning: Variant spelling of Colton, from Old English col meaning coal or charcoal and tun meaning settlement, farm, or village, thus coal town or farm near charcoal workingsHigh

In 30 seconds: Colten is a rugged Old English surname-name meaning coal town. A popular American variant of Colton, it has a strong, outdoorsy character that suits the Western and country music naming tradition.
💕 Browse more names
Origin HighOld English
MeaningVariant spelling of Colton, from Old English col meaning coal or charcoal and tun meaning settlement, farm, or village, thus coal town or farm near charcoal workings
U.S. rank (2025)#966 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births238 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2009
Total births (all-time)≈ 16,354

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200919782025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Colton derives from the Old English elements col (coal, charcoal) and tun (settlement), referring to a place where charcoal was produced. It became a prominent English surname and later a given name in the United States.

Colton and its variant Colten rose sharply in American popularity in the 1990s and 2000s, driven by the trend for strong, rugged surname-names. Colten is the less common spelling but carries the same appeal.

Did you know? Colton, California; Colton, New York; and Colton, Oregon are among the many American places named after the English surname Colton, reflecting the pattern of Old English place names traveling across the Atlantic with settlers.
Overall data confidence 89%
Behind the Name — Colton — Old English etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ColtonKoltonKolten

Nicknames

ColeColt

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Colten…

Colton— direct variant sharing identical Old English origin and meaning
Dalton— same Old English -ton place-name surname-name register
Easton— same American surname-name pattern with a directional Old English feel
Weston— shares the Old English -ton ending and rugged American surname appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Colten mean?

Colten means coal town, from Old English col (coal) and tun (settlement). It is a spelling variant of Colton.

How do you pronounce Colten?

It is said KOHL-ten, with two syllables and stress on the first.

Is Colten the same as Colton?

Colten and Colton are spelling variants of the same name with identical pronunciation and Old English origin.

What are nicknames for Colten?

Common nicknames for Colten include Cole and Colt.