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Kolton

♂ Boy

Pronounced KOHL-ton /ˈkoʊl.tən/High

Meaning: Variant spelling of Colton, from the Old English place-name and surname meaning 'settlement near the coal' or 'dark settlement,' from col ('coal,' 'charcoal,' 'dark') and tun ('settlement,' 'farm,' 'town')High

In 30 seconds: Kolton is a modern K-spelled variant of Colton — an Old English place-name meaning 'coal town.' Rugged and Western in feel, it has been rising on the U.S. charts since the 2000s.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningVariant spelling of Colton, from the Old English place-name and surname meaning 'settlement near the coal' or 'dark settlement,' from col ('coal,' 'charcoal,' 'dark') and tun ('settlement,' 'farm,' 'town')
U.S. rank (2025)#594 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births489 boys (0.03% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2012
Total births (all-time)≈ 17,163

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201219822025

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

History & Origin

Kolton is a spelling variant of Colton, an English place-name and surname derived from Old English col ('coal' or 'dark') and tun ('settlement' or 'farm'). Multiple English villages were named Colton, meaning 'the dark settlement' or 'the coal town.' As a surname-turned-given-name, Colton/Kolton follows a well-established American pattern.

Colton began rising as a given name in the U.S. in the 1980s and surged in the 1990s–2000s, benefiting from the popularity of Western and country-culture naming. Kolton with a K emerged alongside as an alternative spelling. Both forms rank in the U.S. top 200–300 boys' names.

Did you know? The C-to-K respelling trend that produced Kolton from Colton is one of the most consistent patterns in late 20th-century American naming — reflecting a broader preference for the harder visual impression of K over C, particularly for boys' names.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name — Colton — base etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ColtonKoltenCoulton

Nicknames

KoltCole

Famous Bearers

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If you like Kolton…

Colton— the standard C-spelling of the same Old English surname-name
Dalton— Old English -ton place-name with the same rugged Western surname-name feel
Easton— two-syllable Old English place-name with the same energetic American cowboy appeal
Weston— Old English 'western settlement' name with the same two-syllable surname-name energy

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kolton mean?

Kolton is a variant of Colton, from Old English meaning 'settlement near the coal' or 'dark town,' combining col (coal) and tun (settlement).

How do you pronounce Kolton?

It is said KOHL-ton — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Kolton a boy or girl name?

Kolton is used exclusively as a boys' name.

How popular is Kolton?

Kolton ranks in the U.S. top 300 boys' names, with the spelling Colton ranking somewhat higher.