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Layton

♂ Boy

Pronounced LAY-ton /ˈleɪ.tən/High

Meaning: English surname and place name from Old English leac (leek) and tun (settlement, enclosure, farm), meaning 'leek farm' or 'herb settlement'; a locational surname found across northern EnglandHigh

In 30 seconds: Layton is a clean, confident surname-name rooted in Old English agricultural place names. With its bright -ay- vowel and tidy two-syllable structure, it fits comfortably alongside Peyton, Clayton, and Dayton as a stylish modern choice.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningEnglish surname and place name from Old English leac (leek) and tun (settlement, enclosure, farm), meaning 'leek farm' or 'herb settlement'; a locational surname found across northern England
U.S. rank (2025)#714 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births377 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2015
Total births (all-time)≈ 12,152

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201518802025

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

History & Origin

Layton is an English locational surname derived from Old English settlements named for their leek gardens. The name is found particularly in northern England. As a given name, Layton is part of the broader American trend of adopting place-name surnames ending in -ton as masculine first names.

Layton has grown as a first name in the United States through the 2000s and 2010s, appealing to parents who like the Peyton/Clayton sound but want something less common. It sits in the same family of -ayton names that have been steadily rising.

Did you know? Layton is a real English village — there is a Layton in Lancashire and one in the East Riding of Yorkshire. These settlements' names preserve a piece of medieval farming life: the humble leek garden that once defined a community.
Overall data confidence 85%
Behind the Name — Layton — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

LeightonClaytonPeyton

Nicknames

LayTon

Famous Bearers

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If you like Layton…

Peyton— shares the -ayton ending and the same clean two-syllable surname-name structure
Clayton— fellow Old English -ton place-name surname with the same rugged American appeal
Leighton— essentially an alternate spelling of the same name with identical meaning
Dayton— parallel -ayton surname-name in the same contemporary naming family

Frequently Asked

What does the name Layton mean?

Layton means 'leek farm' or 'herb settlement' from Old English leac (leek) + tun (settlement). It is a locational surname from northern England.

How do you pronounce Layton?

Layton is pronounced LAY-ton /ˈleɪ.tən/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Layton a popular name?

Layton has been rising in the U.S. since the 2000s, part of the popular -ayton naming trend alongside Peyton and Clayton.

Is Layton a boy or girl name?

Layton is used primarily as a boys name in the United States.