Home › Baby Names Directory › Milton
Milton
♂ Boy
Pronounced MIL-ton /ˈmɪl.tən/Low
Meaning: Mill settlement; village with a millLow
In 30 seconds: Milton is an English place name meaning mill settlement. The name's most famous bearer is poet John Milton, whose Paradise Lost is one of the greatest works in the English language.
💕 Browse more names
Origin LowEnglish
MeaningMill settlement; village with a mill
U.S. rank (2025)#1440 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births125 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1920
Total births (all-time)≈ 117,932
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
Milton derives from Old English mylen (mill) and tun (settlement). As a given name it became popular in the 19th century.
Milton has a distinguished vintage quality associated with John Milton and economist Milton Friedman.
Did you know? John Milton (1608-1674) wrote Paradise Lost entirely from memory after going blind. Milton thus carries the legacy of one of the most heroic acts of literary creation in human history.
Overall data confidence 90%
Variations
MiltenMilt
Nicknames
Milt
Famous Bearers
- ★John Milton (1608-1674)English poet who wrote the epic Paradise Lost, considered one of the greatest works in the English language
If you like Milton…
Explore names like Milton
Frequently Asked
What does Milton mean?
Mill settlement; village with a mill
How do you pronounce Milton?
Milton is pronounced MIL-ton.
What is the origin of Milton?
Milton comes from English.
What names are similar to Milton?
Similar names include clifton, dalton, colton.