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Milton Name Meaning, Origins & History

Milton

Pronunciation: MIL-tun

Meaning From the mill town Origin surnames Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#1,440
TREND
12
Peak Years
1920, 1921, 1925
Lowest Years
1887, 2025, 1890
Energy Archetype
Hardworking & Dutiful

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Milton in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Milton

  • A favorite of earlier generations: Milton appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 4 separate runs, totaling 40 years. Its last run lasted 34 consecutive years, from 1898 through 1931.
  • More than 118 thousand babies named Milton: U.S. records list 118,547 babies given the name Milton from 1880 through 2025. Even 615 girls received the name Milton - about 1 girl for every 192 boys.

What Does the Name Milton Mean?

Milton is an English name meaning 'middle settlement' or 'middle farm.' It comes from the Old English elements middel, 'middle,' and tūn, 'settlement, enclosure, or farm.' The name was originally a place name for a settlement located between two others or in the middle of a larger area. Some English places called Milton instead derive from Old English mylen, 'mill,' plus tūn, giving the sense 'mill settlement' or 'mill farm.' Because the surname Milton could arise from different places, it can carry either literal meaning.

Milton Name History & Origins

Milton began as an English place name. Several villages and towns in England are called Milton, including Milton in Cambridgeshire and Milton Abbas in Dorset. In the Middle Ages, people who moved from such a place could be identified by it, and the place name became a hereditary surname. The surname Milton is recorded in English records from the medieval period onward.

The given name Milton is a later transferred use of that surname. It appears as a first name in the English-speaking world, especially in the United States and Britain, by the 19th century. The poet John Milton (1608 - 1674), author of Paradise Lost, is the most famous historical bearer of the name; his surname may have helped make Milton familiar as a given name, though the name was already established as a surname. Other well-known bearers include the economist Milton Friedman and the entertainer Milton Berle.

How Popular is the Name Milton?

Milton has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 40 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1898 to 1931.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Explore Name Lists Featuring Milton

Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.

Past Favorite Boy Names

Past Favorite Boy Names: Once-Popular Names

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How the Name Milton Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.

You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.

✦ Milton's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Milton's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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