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Horton
How to Pronounce Horton
Pronounced HOR-tun /ˈhɔr.tən/High
Meaning: Horton is a transferred English surname from any of several places called Horton, from Old English elements meaning 'muddy' or 'grey' plus 'tun' ('farmstead, settlement'). It became an American first name in the surname-name tradition and is widely recognized today through Dr. Seuss.Medium
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
Horton comes from English places named with Old English horh ('mud') or a 'grey' element plus tun ('farmstead'). Transferred to first-name use, it had a modest American run in the early twentieth century; later, Dr. Seuss's faithful elephant gave the name a warm, enduring cultural association.
It was always uncommon, cresting around 1922 with only a couple dozen boys a year and fading by the late century. A man named Horton then is now of a great-grandparent generation; the name reads as a sturdy vintage surname-name, softened for modern ears by its storybook namesake.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Horton mean?
Horton is an English surname-name from Old English for 'muddy or grey farmstead'.
How do you pronounce Horton?
It's said HOR-tun /ˈhɔr.tən/, two syllables.
Is Horton a boy or girl name?
Horton is used as a boy's name.
How popular is Horton?
Horton has always been uncommon, an early-century surname-name.