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Home › Baby Names Directory › Hamilton

Hamilton

♂ Boy

Pronounced HAM-ihl-tuhn /ˈhæm.ɪl.tən/Medium

Meaning: Crooked, mutilatedMedium

In 30 seconds: Hamilton is an English name whose surname roots carry the blunt original sense of 'crooked' or 'mutilated.'
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningCrooked, mutilated
U.S. rank (2025)#3152 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births38 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 6,517

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201618802025

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

Hamilton began as an English place and family name, and its underlying elements are read as 'crooked' or 'mutilated' — an unvarnished description likely tied to a feature of the land or an early bearer. Long use as a family name carried it into use as a first name. Its sound now reads more stately than its literal meaning suggests.

The three-syllable rhythm gives it a formal, established feel that has helped it work as a given name. Bearers span fields and continents, from American Nobel laureate Hamilton O. Smith to the Australian explorer Hamilton Hume.

Did you know? Hamilton 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 - Hamilton — 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

  • ★Hamilton O. Smith (1931–2025)
    American microbiologist, 1978 Nobel laureate in Medicine.
  • ★Hamilton Hume (1797–1873)
    Australian-born explorer of New South Wales and Victoria.

If you like Hamilton…

Hampton— another English place-and-surname name with the Ham- opening
Harrison— a comparable English surname-turned-first-name with three syllables
Hudson— an English surname-style boys' name with a similar established sound
Henderson— lands in the same popularity range
Jonathon— another English name

Explore names like Hamilton

By themeenglishsurname-style

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Hamilton mean?

Hamilton is usually explained as meaning 'crooked, mutilated' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Hamilton?

It's commonly said HAM-ihl-tuhn /ˈhæm.ɪl.tən/.

Is Hamilton a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Hamilton?

In 2024, Hamilton ranked #2640 in the U.S. for boys, with 50 births recorded.

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