Milton

An uncommon Old English pick — distinctive and rare.

Boy's name| Also girlsOld EnglishDeclining Also a pet name
#1428 8in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A number of places in the United Kingdom: A place in England: A village and civil parish in South Cambridgeshire district, Cambridgeshire . A hamlet in Brampton parish, Carlisle district, Cumbria . A hamlet in Preston Richard parish, South Lakeland district, Cumbria . A hamlet in Repton parish, South Derbyshire district, Derbyshire . An area of Portsmouth, Hampshire. Former name of Old Milton, Hampshire, renamed on maps by 1970. An eastern suburb of Gravesend, Gravesham borough, Kent . A village in West Markham parish, Bassetlaw district, Nottinghamshire . A small village and civil parish (without a council) in Cherwell district, Oxfordshire . A village and civil parish in Vale of White Horse district, Oxfordshire . A hamlet in Ash parish, Somerset, previously in South Somerset district . A suburb of Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset district, Somerset . An eastern suburb of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire . A hamlet in East Knoyle parish, Wiltshire . A place in Scotland: A village in Easter Ross, Highland council area . A small village in Glen Urquhart, Highland council area, historically in Inverness-shire . A suburban area of Glasgow, Glasgow council area . A hamlet west of Aberfoyle, Stirling council area . A village in West Dunbartonshire council area . A settlement on South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, Western Isles council area . A settlement in Carew community, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Milton is a boy's and girl's baby name of Old English origin, a habitational surname from dozens of English places named Milton — from mylen ('mill') and tun ('settlement'), meaning 'mill settlement.' It became a given name in honor of the poet John Milton.

Milton peaked in the U.S. top 50 around 1900–1930 and carries the gravitas of its most famous bearer — John Milton, author of Paradise Lost. Comedian Milton Berle, known as "Uncle Miltie," gave it a warmer, more accessible side. A vintage name with real literary weight.

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Popularity Over Time

Milton was #755 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1428, but its charm endures.

06481k2k3k18801900192019401960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Milton
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s686
2010s1,632
2000s2,390
1990s2,832
1980s3,743
1970s4,695
1960s9,002
1950s14,580
1940s14,879
1930s15,729
1920s24,198
1910s17,522
1900s2,695
1890s1,745
1880s1,479

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(145 years, 18802024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Milton
YearBirthsRank
2024128#1428
2023127#1436
2022151#1279
2021136#1361
2020144#1277
2019149#1261
2018153#1221
2017167#1139
2016149#1245
2015153#1208
2014175#1095
2013171#1089
2012168#1107
2011159#1140
2010188#1034
2009190#1026
2008218#935
2007222#901
2006238#846
2005231#818

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Milton as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Milton has also been given to 615 girls in the U.S. since 1901.

Unranked
Current rank
615
Total births
1918
Peak year
Compare Milton as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Milton be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Milton is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #1428. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Milton has two lives

Milton, the baby name
#1428boys
117,807 babies
Currently viewing
Milton, the pet name
#1242pet name
90 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (18802024) · Methodology