Dalton Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Dalton is derived from the Old English words meaning 'valley town'. It has evolved through historical forms, maintaining its core meaning. The name is associated with strength and tradition and has no biblical relevance. It saw a rise in popularity in the 19th century and remains moderately popular today.
The name Dalton is most popular in Oklahoma, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) 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 gradually declining. From 2020-2022, Dalton has been falling for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too rising for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Dalton' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 536th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 515th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 720th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 948th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 195th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 149th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 394th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7232nd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 8072nd out of 9204 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 8171st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 8100th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 15602nd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Dalton' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Dalton"
Pronunciation
/ˈdɔːltən/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Dalton originates from the Old English elements 'dæl', meaning 'valley', and 'tun', meaning 'town' or 'settlement'. Thus, Dalton can be interpreted as 'valley town'.
Meaning
valley town
Language Evolution
Dæl tun (Old English), Dalton (Middle English), Dalton (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in England as a surname and later transitioned to usage as a given name in the 19th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Dalt, Daltin, Dal, Daltan
Modern Popularity & Image
Dalton is perceived as a strong, traditional name that conveys a sense of stability and connection to heritage. It is moderately popular in contemporary society.
Famous People
Dalton Trumbo (American screenwriter), John Dalton (English chemist and physicist), Dalton McGuinty (Canadian politician)
Explore More Dalton Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Dalton"
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 "Dalton"
"Dalton" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 536th of 7545 | 2,081 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 515th of 6773 | 2,428 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 720th of 7552 | 1,954 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 948th of 10718 | 1,161 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 195th of 16616 | 24,139 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 149th of 24088 | 43,350 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 394th of 23106 | 9,786 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 7232nd of 9107 | 15 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 8072nd of 9204 | 10 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 8171st of 27321 | 135 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 8100th of 35406 | 216 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 15602nd of 30306 | 50 |
Regional Popularity of "Dalton" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
51.41% 728th/1416 |
53.73% 741st/1379 |
16.40% 388th/2366 |
85.99% 982nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
53.82% 832nd/1546 |
44.28% 689th/1556 |
16.45% 387th/2353 |
64.71% 1001st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
58.24% 1297th/2227 |
42.96% 1044th/2430 |
19.87% 567th/2853 |
35.17% 976th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
55.16% 1620th/2937 |
49.61% 1728th/3483 |
20.24% 712th/3518 |
32.12% 1299th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
3.85% 142nd/3685 |
6.93% 310th/4475 |
3.08% 160th/5194 |
4.20% 265th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
2.49% 114th/4582 |
4.51% 233rd/5164 |
1.48% 108th/7313 |
3.83% 286th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
8.86% 353rd/3984 |
10.25% 460th/4487 |
4.94% 337th/6822 |
8.80% 552nd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Dalton" 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) |
- | - |
68.81% 5032nd/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Dalton"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Dalton" 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.