Dalton Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Dalton is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Dalton?
Dalton is spelled D-A-L-T-O-N. The name has 6 letters.
Dalton at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- The surname Dalton ultimately means “valley town” or “settlement in a valley,” derived from Old English elements.
- Origin
- Dalton is commonly associated with English origins and is traditionally a locational surname from places named Dalton in England.
- Pronunciation
- DAL-tuhn · 2 syllables
Dalton Popularity in 2025
Rank#13,208
Recorded Births6
Rank#448
Recorded Births699
- Girls usage rose 269 places to #13,208 and recorded the same number of births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 15 places to #448 and recorded 33 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Dalton Mean?
The surname Dalton ultimately means “valley town” or “settlement in a valley,” derived from Old English elements.
Origin: Dalton is commonly associated with English origins and is traditionally a locational surname from places named Dalton in England.
How Do You Pronounce Dalton?
PronunciationDAL-tuhn
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Dalton?
- History
- Dalton has been used as a surname since medieval England and later adopted as a given name in English-speaking countries.
Dalton Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2012 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 6 | #13,208 |
| 2025 | Boys | 699 | #448 |
| 2024 | Girls | 6 | #13,477 |
| 2024 | Boys | 732 | #433 |
| 2023 | Boys | 582 | #513 |
| 2022 | Boys | 574 | #516 |
| 2021 | Girls | 6 | #13,464 |
| 2021 | Boys | 566 | #519 |
| 2020 | Girls | 8 | #11,090 |
| 2020 | Boys | 638 | #463 |
| 2019 | Girls | 5 | #15,539 |
| 2019 | Boys | 686 | #444 |
| 2018 | Girls | 5 | #15,682 |
| 2018 | Boys | 799 | #397 |
| 2017 | Boys | 893 | #371 |
| 2016 | Girls | 7 | #12,876 |
| 2016 | Boys | 1,050 | #328 |
| 2015 | Boys | 1,050 | #328 |
| 2014 | Girls | 7 | #13,069 |
| 2014 | Boys | 1,118 | #312 |
| 2013 | Girls | 6 | #14,582 |
| 2013 | Boys | 1,106 | #310 |
| 2012 | Girls | 7 | #13,483 |
| 2012 | Boys | 1,232 | #284 |
When Was Dalton Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1998 · Boys
4,565 recorded births
National rank #88
1999 · Boys
4,541 recorded births
National rank #86
2000 · Boys
4,445 recorded births
National rank #91
1994 · Boys
4,245 recorded births
National rank #85
Where Dalton Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| AK | #143 | 6 |
| NH | #206 | 6 |
| ME | #234 | 5 |
| ID | #282 | 9 |
| LA | #293 | 17 |
| NC | #309 | 39 |
| TN | #311 | 28 |
| MS | #312 | 10 |