Houston Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Houston originates from a Scottish place name, meaning 'house settlement', derived from Old English roots. It has evolved through various forms, retaining its meaning related to settlements. It gained significant popularity in the United States during the 19th century, particularly linked to the city of Houston, Texas. The name is associated with strong traits and has no biblical relevance. Notable individuals include Sam Houston and Whitney Houston.
The name Houston is most popular in Alabama, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Houston has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling 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, 'Houston' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 467th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 560th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 816th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1111th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 742nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 832nd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 767th out of 23106 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 9126th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 11595th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7309th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Houston' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Houston"
Pronunciation
/ˈhjuːstən/
Origin
Scottish
Etymology
The name Houston is derived from a Scottish surname which comes from the place name Houston in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The place name itself is believed to originate from the Old English 'hūst' meaning 'house' or 'settlement', combined with 'tūn' meaning 'enclosure' or 'town'.
Meaning
House settlement
Language Evolution
Old English (hūst + tūn), Middle English, Modern English
Historical Usage
The name Houston gained popularity in the United States in the 19th century, especially after the founding of Houston, Texas in 1836, named after Sam Houston, a key figure in Texas history.
Variants & Derivatives
Huston, Hughston, Huston
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Houston is recognized as a strong and distinguished name, often associated with leadership and resilience, particularly due to its connection to the city in Texas and notable figures.
Famous People
Sam Houston, Whitney Houston, John Houston
Explore More Houston Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Houston"
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 "Houston"
"Houston" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 467th of 7545 | 2,679 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 560th of 6773 | 2,057 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 816th of 7552 | 1,565 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1111th of 10718 | 876 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 742nd of 16616 | 2,716 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 832nd of 24088 | 3,549 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 767th of 23106 | 3,877 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 9126th of 27321 | 112 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 11595th of 35406 | 125 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 7309th of 30306 | 188 |
Regional Popularity of "Houston" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
67.37% 954th/1416 |
- |
12.17% 288th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
64.49% 997th/1546 |
- |
15.68% 369th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
47.60% 1060th/2227 |
- |
21.17% 604th/2853 |
45.55% 1264th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
63.82% 2223rd/3483 |
25.92% 912th/3518 |
49.11% 1986th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
25.89% 954th/3685 |
57.01% 2551st/4475 |
11.09% 576th/5194 |
16.00% 1011th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
24.16% 1107th/4582 |
71.90% 3713th/5164 |
8.22% 601st/7313 |
17.82% 1330th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
20.38% 812th/3984 |
59.86% 2686th/4487 |
8.02% 547th/6822 |
16.83% 1056th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Houston" 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 "Houston"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Houston" 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.