Littleton
A boy's name of Old English origin with 312 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A village in County Tipperary, Ireland.
Littleton is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, from the English place name meaning 'little settlement' — from the Old English lytel (little) and tun (settlement, farm). As a surname, it was carried by Sir Thomas de Littleton, the 15th-century English judge whose Treatise on Tenures was foundational to English property law.
Littleton as a given name carries the dignified, slightly eccentric character of English legal and geographical heritage. It was used most in the American South during the 19th century, when English place-name surnames became honored given names in families who prized their English ancestry.
EtymologyShow more
Littleton is cataloged under the Old English naming tradition. Names from the Old English tradition carry linguistic and cultural patterns that shape their sound, structure, and associations.
In the U.S., Littleton has been recorded as a boy's name since 1882, with 312 total births. Browse the Old English names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Littleton has 40+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1882.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 25 | #3406 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 56 | #3186 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 36 | #3233 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 76 | #3036 | — |
| 1910s | 84 | #2427 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 5 | #1517 | ▼ |
| 1890s | 19 | #1014 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 11 | #984 | — |
The Story of Littleton
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1924, Littleton is a name steeped in history. Boys named Littleton are most likely born between 1914 and 1934.
How rare is Littleton?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Littleton is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1882, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1910s with 84 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Littleton by the numbers
- Would fill 7 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(40 years, 1882–1959)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 5 | #4331 |
| 1958 | 6 | #3768 |
| 1952 | 14 | #2118 |
| 1949 | 8 | #2924 |
| 1948 | 5 | #3980 |
| 1946 | 5 | #3807 |
| 1945 | 6 | #3197 |
| 1944 | 6 | #3312 |
| 1943 | 6 | #3419 |
| 1941 | 10 | #2427 |
| 1940 | 10 | #2421 |
| 1938 | 6 | #3385 |
| 1935 | 7 | #3137 |
| 1932 | 10 | #2562 |
| 1931 | 6 | #3612 |
| 1930 | 7 | #3467 |
| 1929 | 9 | #2875 |
| 1927 | 7 | #3656 |
| 1925 | 8 | #3291 |
| 1924 | 15 | #2177 |
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, 1882–1959