Colton Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Colton is an English name with Old English origins, meaning 'coal town'. It evolved from Coltun in Old English to its modern form. The name carries traits of strength and connection to nature, with no biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the 19th century and has continued to be favored in modern times.
The name Colton is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been consistently rising. From 2020-2022, Colton has been too rising for male in MidWest, too rising for male in Northeast, too rising for male in South, stalled for female in South, too rising for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too falling for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Colton' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4708th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4363rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3278th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1877th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 198th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 105th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 69th out of 23106 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 12462nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 14637th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 14385th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Colton' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Colton"
Pronunciation
/ˈkoʊltən/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
Colton is derived from the Old English elements 'col', meaning 'coal', and 'tun', meaning 'town or settlement'. It originally referred to a settlement near a coal mine or a coal town.
Meaning
Coal town
Language Evolution
Old English: Coltun, Middle English: Colton, Modern English: Colton
Historical Usage
The name Colton gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in England and later in the United States, as a surname that transitioned into a first name.
Variants & Derivatives
Colt, Coltson, Cole
Modern Popularity & Image
Colton is currently perceived as a trendy and modern name, often associated with a sense of ruggedness and rural charm. It has gained popularity in the United States over the last few decades.
Famous People
Colton Haynes, an American actor and model, Colton Underwood, an American television personality and former football player
Explore More Colton Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Colton"
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 "Colton"
"Colton" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 4708th of 7545 | 39 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 4363rd of 6773 | 42 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3278th of 7552 | 119 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1877th of 10718 | 374 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 198th of 16616 | 23,968 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 105th of 24088 | 61,993 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 69th of 23106 | 61,974 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 12462nd of 27321 | 62 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 14637th of 35406 | 81 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 14385th of 30306 | 60 |
Regional Popularity of "Colton" by Generation for Male 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) |
- | - |
61.74% 2172nd/3518 |
37.54% 1518th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
4.42% 163rd/3685 |
7.80% 349th/4475 |
3.41% 177th/5194 |
3.06% 193rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
1.75% 80th/4582 |
3.02% 156th/5164 |
1.24% 91st/7313 |
1.92% 143rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
1.20% 48th/3984 |
1.49% 67th/4487 |
0.95% 65th/6822 |
1.69% 106th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Colton" 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) |
- | - |
87.19% 6376th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Colton"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Colton" 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.