Carleton Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Carleton has its roots in Old English, meaning 'the settlement of free men'. The name evolved from historical forms like Carlton and Carltin. It is associated with a sense of tradition and has gained popularity through various notable figures and locations. There is no biblical relevance tied to the name.
The name Carleton is most popular in Maine, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Carleton has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Carleton' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 697th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 792nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 983rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1475th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2658th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7251st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 17359th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Carleton' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Carleton"
Pronunciation
/ˈkɑːrltən/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Carleton derives from the Old English elements 'carl', meaning 'man', and 'tun', meaning 'enclosure' or 'settlement'. Thus, it can be interpreted as 'the settlement of free men'.
Meaning
the settlement of free men
Language Evolution
Carlton, Carleton, Carlton
Historical Usage
Carleton gained popularity in England during the medieval period, often associated with various locations named Carleton, which contributed to its use as a surname and later as a given name.
Variants & Derivatives
Carlton, Carltin, Carleton
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Carleton is perceived as a traditional and somewhat aristocratic name, often associated with educational institutions and historical significance.
Famous People
Carleton Coon, Carleton Gajdusek, Carleton S. Coon
Explore More Carleton Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Carleton"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Carleton"
"Carleton" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 697th of 7545 | 1,348 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 792nd of 6773 | 1,162 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 983rd of 7552 | 1,095 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1475th of 10718 | 554 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2658th of 16616 | 369 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 7251st of 24088 | 151 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 17359th of 23106 | 17 |
Regional Popularity of "Carleton" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
45.27% 641st/1416 |
27.05% 373rd/1379 |
- |
61.21% 699th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
48.84% 755th/1546 |
25.32% 394th/1556 |
- |
54.17% 838th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
43.87% 977th/2227 |
28.89% 702nd/2430 |
74.55% 2127th/2853 |
40.14% 1114th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
63.82% 2223rd/3483 |
- |
41.44% 1676th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
67.60% 3511th/5194 |
52.49% 3316th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Carleton" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Carleton"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Carleton" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.