Bolton
A boy's name of Old English origin with 233 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A place in the United Kingdom: A town and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. A village and civil parish in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria, England, previously in Eden district . A small village in Fangfoss parish, East Riding of Yorkshire, England . A small village in Hedgeley parish, Northumberland, England . A northern suburb of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England . A small village south of Haddington, East Lothian council area, Scotland .
Bolton is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, from the English place name meaning 'settlement in the hollow' or 'farmstead near a bend' — from Old English bol (building, dwelling) and tun (settlement). Bolton is a historic industrial town in Greater Manchester, England.
Bolton carries the clean, strong energy of English surname-names ending in -ton — alongside Colton, Easton, and Barrington. With 233 recorded births, it has quiet presence as a given name, appealing to families with English heritage and parents who appreciate its solid, dependable sound and its sense of rootedness in the English landscape.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Bolton is a boy's name with over a century of recorded use (1905–2024). Its Old English roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
Today, Bolton is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #8374), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Bolton climbed 1744 spots in the last 20 years — from #10118 to #8374.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 49 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 93 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 38 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 36 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 11 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 6 | — |
The Story of Bolton
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2017, Bolton is a fresh, modern favorite. Boys named Bolton are most likely born between 2007 and 2024.
How rare is Bolton?
Only about 1 in every 400,000 babies born in 2024 was named Bolton — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1905, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 93 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.
Bolton by the numbers
- Would fill 5 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(28 years, 1905–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9 | #8374 |
| 2023 | 11 | #7348 |
| 2022 | 9 | #8403 |
| 2021 | 14 | #6064 |
| 2020 | 6 | #10778 |
| 2019 | 8 | #9013 |
| 2018 | 12 | #6755 |
| 2017 | 15 | #5837 |
| 2016 | 12 | #6773 |
| 2015 | 13 | #6376 |
| 2014 | 10 | #7616 |
| 2013 | 11 | #7088 |
| 2012 | 7 | #9832 |
| 2010 | 5 | #12474 |
| 2009 | 6 | #11172 |
| 2008 | 7 | #9988 |
| 2007 | 5 | #12596 |
| 2006 | 6 | #10828 |
| 2004 | 6 | #10118 |
| 2001 | 8 | #7608 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1905–2024