Burton Boy

Popularity: #915 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BUR-ton //ˈbɜːrtən//

Origin: English; Old English

Meaning: English: fortress town; Old English: fortified settlement

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Burton has its roots in Old English, derived from the elements "burh," meaning "fortification" or "fort," and "tun," meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." This etymological combination suggests a literal meaning of "fortified settlement." The name was initially used as a surname, indicating a geographical origin, and it entered the English language during the early medieval period, particularly after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, which facilitated the incorporation of many Old English terms into the evolving English lexicon. Historically, the name Burton has been associated with various locations in England, notably Burton upon Trent, a town in Staffordshire that gained prominence in the brewing industry during the 19th century.

The name also appears in historical records from as early as the 12th century, with references to individuals bearing the surname in connection to land ownership and local governance. The name's presence in English history is further solidified by its appearance in notable texts and documents, including the Domesday Book, which recorded landholdings in England in 1086.

Culturally, the name Burton carries connotations of strength and stability, reflective of its meaning related to fortifications. This association has allowed the name to endure through centuries, often linked to individuals of notable character or achievement.

Additionally, the name has been used in various literary and artistic contexts, contributing to its resonance in English-speaking cultures. While diminutive forms such as Burt may exist, the name Burton itself has maintained a strong identity throughout its history, symbolizing a connection to the land and heritage of England.

Famous people named Burton

In this section, you will find notable people named Burton. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Burton who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Burton who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Burton Cummings is a musician best known for his work with The Guess Who, as well as his solo hits like 'Stand Tall.'.

Burton Guster is a fictional character best known as the sidekick in the television series Psych.

Burton Lane is a composer best known for his work on Broadway musicals such as Finian's Rainbow and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.

Burton Ernie is a fictional character best known as one half of the iconic duo on Sesame Street.

Fictional characters named Burton

The following list of fictional characters named Burton is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Burton Guster is a fictional character from the TV series Psych. He is the best friend and partner of the main character, Shawn Spencer, providing comic relief and support throughout their detective adventures.

Burton 'Burt' Macklin is a fictional character from the TV series Parks and Recreation. He is a fictional alter ego of the character Andy Dwyer, known for his humorous and over-the-top persona as a detective.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Burton, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

BrandonBennettBryceBlakeBeckett

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Burton. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

BurtBurkeBraytonBartonBurrellBensonBridgerBaxterBlaineBrock

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Burton was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Burton has ranked as high as #492 nationally, which occurred in 1925, and has been most popular in New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, California, and Michigan.

In the past 5 years the name Burton has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Burton is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Burton was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Burton.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 23 23 0
2024 19 19 0
2023 31 31 0
2022 35 35 0
2021 31 31 0
2020 20 20 0
2019 24 24 0
2018 23 23 0
2017 25 25 0
2016 25 25 0
2015 36 36 0
2014 27 27 0
2013 30 30 0
2012 36 36 0
2011 27 27 0
2010 26 26 0
2009 26 26 0
2008 19 19 0
2007 29 29 0
2006 25 25 0
2005 31 31 0
2004 30 30 0
2003 23 23 0
2002 24 24 0
2001 22 22 0
2000 21 21 0
1999 24 24 0
1998 25 25 0
1997 21 21 0
1996 37 37 0
1995 25 25 0
1994 36 36 0
1993 36 36 0
1992 31 31 0
1991 45 45 0
1990 43 43 0
1989 54 54 0
1988 51 51 0
1987 56 56 0
1986 63 63 0
1985 56 56 0
1984 60 60 0
1983 70 70 0
1982 75 75 0
1981 91 91 0
1980 97 97 0
1979 94 94 0
1978 102 102 0
1977 98 98 0
1976 82 82 0
1975 79 79 0
1974 86 86 0
1973 87 87 0
1972 112 112 0
1971 119 119 0
1970 121 121 0
1969 117 117 0
1968 120 120 0
1967 129 129 0
1966 152 152 0
1965 160 160 0
1964 163 163 0
1963 197 197 0
1962 154 154 0
1961 187 182 5
1960 186 186 0
1959 171 171 0
1958 158 158 0
1957 196 196 0
1956 191 191 0
1955 183 183 0
1954 192 192 0
1953 222 222 0
1952 217 217 0
1951 216 216 0
1950 252 252 0
1949 270 270 0
1948 246 246 0
1947 293 293 0
1946 285 285 0
1945 273 273 0
1944 293 293 0
1943 304 304 0
1942 317 317 0
1941 334 334 0
1940 345 345 0
1939 312 312 0
1938 384 384 0
1937 410 410 0
1936 435 435 0
1935 399 399 0
1934 433 433 0
1933 427 427 0
1932 447 440 7
1931 473 473 0
1930 560 560 0
1929 545 545 0
1928 523 518 5
1927 546 546 0
1926 563 558 5
1925 597 597 0
1924 551 551 0
1923 500 495 5
1922 485 479 6
1921 508 503 5
1920 433 433 0
1919 456 456 0
1918 455 450 5
1917 398 398 0
1916 363 358 5
1915 328 328 0
1914 244 244 0
1913 207 207 0
1912 163 163 0
1911 84 84 0
1910 53 53 0
1909 52 52 0
1908 34 34 0
1907 43 43 0
1906 50 50 0
1905 30 30 0
1904 41 41 0
1903 52 52 0
1902 29 29 0
1901 35 35 0
1900 38 38 0
1899 32 32 0
1898 38 38 0
1897 26 26 0
1896 42 42 0
1895 27 27 0
1894 29 29 0
1893 30 30 0
1892 32 32 0
1891 29 29 0
1890 28 28 0
1889 24 24 0
1888 42 42 0
1887 23 23 0
1886 35 35 0
1885 32 32 0
1884 38 38 0
1883 40 40 0
1882 38 38 0
1881 42 42 0
1880 34 34 0

Top States for Burton (2021)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 5
100%