Alton

♂ Boy

Pronounced AWL-tun /ˈɔl.tən/Medium

Meaning: Town at the source of the riverMedium

In 30 seconds: Alton is an Old English boy's name meaning 'town at the source of the river'. It began as a place name before becoming a given name.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningTown at the source of the river

U.S. rank (2025)#1602 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births106 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1937

Total births (all-time)≈ 47,455

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

Alton describes a settlement located at a river's source, drawn from Old English roots. Like many English place names, it passed first into use as a surname and then as a first name. The result is a grounded, landscape-rooted name with a quiet dignity.

The clipped two-syllable sound, AWL-tun, fits comfortably alongside other traditional English '-ton' names. Its meaning ties it to water and place, lending it an understated, settled character.

Did you know? Alton likely reached first-name use through a surname or place-name route, which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Alton — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Alton Brown (1962-)
American television chef and host of Good Eats
★Alton Ellis (1938-2008)
Jamaican singer regarded as a pioneer of rocksteady

If you like Alton…

Ashton— another Old English '-ton' place name turned first name

Dalton— shares the '-ton' settlement ending and English place-name origin

Elton— an English '-ton' name with the same village-rooted feel

Colton— matches Alton's '-ton' pattern and English heritage

Carlton— an English place-and-surname name parallel to Alton

Explore names like Alton

By themeenglish nature surname-style

By meaningSea / Water

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Alton mean?

Alton is usually explained as meaning 'town at the source of the river' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Alton?

It's commonly said AWL-tun /ˈɔl.tən/.

Is Alton a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Alton is used as a boy name.

How popular is Alton?

In 2024, Alton ranked #1566 in the U.S. for boys, with 110 births recorded.