Fenton Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: FEN-tun //ˈfɛntən//
Origin: English; Old French
Meaning: English: from the town of Fenton; Old French: marshland
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Fenton has its roots in Old English, deriving from the elements "fen," meaning marsh or swamp, and "tun," meaning settlement or enclosure. This etymological combination suggests a literal meaning of "settlement by the marsh." The name is believed to have originated in the early medieval period, with its earliest forms appearing in various records from the 11th century onward.
As the English language evolved, Fenton maintained its form and meaning, reflecting the geographical features of the areas where it was used. Historically, Fenton can be traced back to various locations in England, particularly in the Midlands, where settlements were often named after their surrounding landscapes.
The name gained prominence through notable figures and places, including Fenton in Staffordshire, which has been documented since the Domesday Book of 1086. Additionally, the name appears in various historical texts and records, contributing to its recognition throughout the centuries.
Culturally, Fenton has been associated with the natural landscape, symbolizing a connection to the earth and the environment. This connection to nature has resonated through literature and folklore, where names derived from geographical features often carry connotations of stability and permanence.
The name has also been used in various forms of art and literature, reinforcing its significance within English heritage. While diminutive forms such as "Fen" may arise in colloquial use, the name Fenton itself has retained its original form and meaning over the centuries, reflecting a rich historical and cultural legacy.
Famous people named Fenton
In this section, you will find notable people named Fenton. 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 Fenton who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Fenton 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.
Fenton Bailey is a television producer best known for RuPaul's Drag Race, Inside Deep Throat, and The Eyes of Tammy Faye.
Fenton Robinson was a blues guitarist and singer best known for his songs.
Fictional characters named Fenton
The following list of fictional characters named Fenton 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.
Fenton Crackshell is a fictional character from the animated television series DuckTales. He is the genius inventor who becomes the superhero Gizmoduck, fighting against villains to protect Duckburg.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Fenton, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Fenton. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Fenton was first seen in the United States in 1883.
Fenton has ranked as high as #856 nationally, which occurred in 1922, and has been most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Virginia, and Washington.
In the past 5 years the name Fenton has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Fenton 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 Fenton was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Fenton (2017)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| WA | 5 |
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 Fenton.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2018 | 27 |
| 2017 | 23 |
| 2016 | 32 |
| 2015 | 38 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2013 | 22 |
| 2012 | 35 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2009 | 20 |
| 2008 | 21 |
| 2007 | 27 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 1999 | 6 |
| 1998 | 5 |
| 1995 | 6 |
| 1993 | 6 |
| 1992 | 6 |
| 1991 | 7 |
| 1990 | 10 |
| 1989 | 8 |
| 1988 | 5 |
| 1987 | 8 |
| 1986 | 7 |
| 1985 | 5 |
| 1984 | 10 |
| 1983 | 5 |
| 1982 | 12 |
| 1981 | 10 |
| 1980 | 10 |
| 1979 | 10 |
| 1978 | 7 |
| 1977 | 9 |
| 1975 | 8 |
| 1974 | 11 |
| 1972 | 11 |
| 1971 | 12 |
| 1970 | 14 |
| 1969 | 18 |
| 1968 | 12 |
| 1967 | 14 |
| 1966 | 11 |
| 1965 | 17 |
| 1964 | 15 |
| 1963 | 12 |
| 1962 | 19 |
| 1961 | 22 |
| 1960 | 21 |
| 1959 | 17 |
| 1958 | 29 |
| 1957 | 18 |
| 1956 | 15 |
| 1955 | 20 |
| 1954 | 18 |
| 1953 | 25 |
| 1952 | 10 |
| 1951 | 14 |
| 1950 | 19 |
| 1949 | 19 |
| 1948 | 17 |
| 1947 | 17 |
| 1946 | 15 |
| 1945 | 12 |
| 1944 | 19 |
| 1943 | 14 |
| 1942 | 17 |
| 1941 | 25 |
| 1940 | 21 |
| 1939 | 16 |
| 1938 | 14 |
| 1937 | 13 |
| 1936 | 17 |
| 1935 | 19 |
| 1934 | 27 |
| 1933 | 26 |
| 1932 | 22 |
| 1931 | 22 |
| 1930 | 20 |
| 1929 | 10 |
| 1928 | 25 |
| 1927 | 37 |
| 1926 | 40 |
| 1925 | 36 |
| 1924 | 34 |
| 1923 | 32 |
| 1922 | 40 |
| 1921 | 29 |
| 1920 | 34 |
| 1919 | 39 |
| 1918 | 34 |
| 1917 | 21 |
| 1916 | 26 |
| 1915 | 39 |
| 1914 | 23 |
| 1913 | 19 |
| 1912 | 16 |
| 1911 | 6 |
| 1910 | 7 |
| 1909 | 7 |
| 1908 | 7 |
| 1907 | 10 |
| 1906 | 10 |
| 1905 | 7 |
| 1904 | 7 |
| 1903 | 8 |
| 1902 | 5 |
| 1901 | 6 |
| 1900 | 5 |
| 1898 | 7 |
| 1897 | 5 |
| 1895 | 9 |
| 1894 | 5 |
| 1888 | 7 |
| 1883 | 5 |