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Home › Baby Names Directory › Dalton

Dalton

♀ Girl

Pronounced DAWL-tun /ˈdɔːl.tən/High

Meaning: From the English place name and surname Dalton, Old English dael + tun, 'valley settlement' or 'town in the valley'. Long used as a boy's given name; used here for a girl, though it leans strongly to boys.Medium

In 30 seconds: A sturdy English surname name: Dalton means 'town in the valley' (said 'DAWL-tun'). Far more often a boy's name — we note the lean.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningFrom the English place name and surname Dalton, Old English dael + tun, 'valley settlement' or 'town in the valley'. Long used as a boy's given name; used here for a girl, though it leans strongly to boys.
U.S. rank (2024)#13831 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2004
Total births (all-time)≈ 426

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200419162024

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

Dalton comes from English place names built on Old English dael ('valley') and tun ('settlement'), giving 'valley town'. Families who lived at such a place carried it as a surname, and it moved into first-name use, most heavily for boys. As a girl's name it is rare and reads as a modern surname pick; more often a boy's name, which we note (said 'DAWL-tun').

For girls it appears only rarely in the U.S., against far heavier boys' use. Rare, surname-style, and grounded.

Did you know? Dalton started as an English place name — dael plus tun, the settlement down in the valley — and there are Daltons dotted across northern England. It's used here for a girl, though it remains overwhelmingly a boys' name, which we note.
Overall data confidence 58%
References — Dalton — English place name/surname, 'valley town'; boy-leaning

Variations

DalltonDaulton

Nicknames

DalTonie

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Dalton…

Payton— a like surname name used for girls
Emerson— a like -son surname turned girl's name
Harlow— a like place-and-surname pick
Delaney— a like sturdy, unisex-leaning choice

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Dalton mean?

Dalton is an English place name and surname meaning 'town in the valley', from Old English dael and tun.

How do you pronounce Dalton?

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

Is Dalton a boy or girl name?

Dalton is far more often a boy's name; girl use is rare, and we note the lean plainly.

How popular is Dalton?

For girls Dalton is very rare in the U.S., while it is well established for boys.

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