Afton

♀ Girl

Pronounced AF-tun /ˈæf.tən/High

Meaning: From the River Afton in Scotland, made famous by Robert Burns's poem; a place-and-surname nameMedium

In 30 seconds: A river Robert Burns made immortal: Afton flows from the Scottish stream of 'Flow gently, sweet Afton'. Poetic, gently watery, and quietly unisex.

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Origin MediumEnglish, Scottish

MeaningFrom the River Afton in Scotland, made famous by Robert Burns's poem; a place-and-surname name

U.S. rank (2025)#3519 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births43 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1983

Total births (all-time)≈ 5,222

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Afton takes its name from the River Afton in Ayrshire, Scotland, immortalized in Robert Burns's poem 'Sweet Afton'. Adopted as a place- and surname-name, it crossed to first-name use in America, leaning gently female.

It registers thinly in recent records. Rare, river-fed, and poetically Scottish.

Did you know? Robert Burns's 1791 song 'Sweet Afton' — 'Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes' — turned this small Ayrshire river into one of poetry's most tender lullabies.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name — Afton — place-name etymology

Variations

AftenAfftyn

Nicknames

Aff

Famous Bearers

★Afton Smith (1967-)
American actress and former wife of Brendan Fraser, appeared in films in the 1990s

If you like Afton…

Ashton— a fellow -ton surname-name

Emerson— the companion unisex surname pick

Sutton— a sister -ton place-name

Carson— shares the -on ending

Halston— shares Afton's English roots

Explore names like Afton

By themeenglish unisex place-name scottish

By meaningSea / Water

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Afton mean?

Afton comes from the River Afton in Scotland, made famous by Robert Burns's poem 'Sweet Afton'.

How do you pronounce Afton?

It's said AF-tun /ˈæf.tən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Afton a boy or girl name?

Afton is used for both sexes; it leans gently female.

How popular is Afton?

Afton is a rare name in the U.S.