Holt Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: holt //hoʊlt//
Origin: Old English; Scandinavian
Meaning: Old English: hollow or recess; Scandinavian: a small wood or grove
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Holt has its origins in Old English, derived from the word "holt," meaning a small wood or grove. This term can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic *holtaz, which also referred to a wooded area or thicket.
The transition into Middle English retained the meaning associated with wooded places, and the name began to be used as a surname in England during the medieval period. As a surname, it often denoted someone who lived near or in a grove or wooded area, reflecting the importance of nature in the landscape and life of early medieval England.
Historically, the name Holt appears in various records from the 13th century onward. It is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it may have been used to describe locations characterized by their wooded environments.
The name has been borne by notable figures throughout history, including individuals in the English gentry and nobility. The Holt family, for instance, has roots in the English aristocracy, with members serving in various capacities during the Tudor and Stuart periods.
Additionally, the name has been associated with several places in England, further embedding it in the cultural and geographical landscape of the country. Culturally, the name Holt evokes a connection to nature and the pastoral landscape, symbolizing strength and stability, much like the woods it describes.
The name has also been linked to various literary works and folklore, where woods often serve as settings for stories of adventure and transformation. The diminutive form "Holtie" has occasionally been used, though it is less common.
Overall, the name Holt carries with it a rich tapestry of historical significance and cultural resonance, rooted deeply in the natural world.
Famous people named Holt
In this section, you will find notable people named Holt. 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 Holt who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Holt 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.
Holt McCallany is an actor best known for Mindhunter, Fight Club, and Three Kings.
Holt Renfrew is a Canadian luxury department store best known for high-end fashion and designer brands.
Fictional characters named Holt
The following list of fictional characters named Holt 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.
Holt is a fictional character from the TV series Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He is the captain of the 99th precinct and known for his serious demeanor and leadership skills.
Holt is a fictional character from the video game series The Last of Us. They are a member of the Fireflies, a revolutionary militia group fighting against the oppressive military regime.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Holt, 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 Holt. 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 Holt was first seen in the United States in 1906.
Holt has ranked as high as #1285 nationally, which occurred in 2019, and has been most popular in Texas, North Carolina, California, Tennessee, and Georgia.
In the past 5 years the name Holt has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Holt 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 Holt was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Holt (2024)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 12 | |
| TN | 5 | |
| WI | 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 Holt.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 82 |
| 2023 | 84 |
| 2022 | 83 |
| 2021 | 76 |
| 2020 | 72 |
| 2019 | 87 |
| 2018 | 80 |
| 2017 | 59 |
| 2016 | 68 |
| 2015 | 67 |
| 2014 | 53 |
| 2013 | 58 |
| 2012 | 59 |
| 2011 | 49 |
| 2010 | 52 |
| 2009 | 51 |
| 2008 | 40 |
| 2007 | 41 |
| 2006 | 35 |
| 2005 | 28 |
| 2004 | 25 |
| 2003 | 30 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2001 | 20 |
| 2000 | 19 |
| 1999 | 19 |
| 1998 | 19 |
| 1997 | 18 |
| 1996 | 32 |
| 1995 | 11 |
| 1994 | 14 |
| 1993 | 10 |
| 1992 | 27 |
| 1991 | 7 |
| 1990 | 7 |
| 1989 | 19 |
| 1988 | 11 |
| 1987 | 17 |
| 1985 | 9 |
| 1984 | 8 |
| 1983 | 6 |
| 1982 | 10 |
| 1978 | 8 |
| 1977 | 8 |
| 1975 | 5 |
| 1971 | 5 |
| 1968 | 6 |
| 1967 | 7 |
| 1965 | 5 |
| 1963 | 9 |
| 1962 | 7 |
| 1961 | 6 |
| 1956 | 5 |
| 1955 | 5 |
| 1954 | 6 |
| 1952 | 6 |
| 1951 | 6 |
| 1947 | 8 |
| 1946 | 6 |
| 1943 | 9 |
| 1942 | 5 |
| 1937 | 5 |
| 1936 | 7 |
| 1934 | 7 |
| 1932 | 5 |
| 1931 | 5 |
| 1930 | 5 |
| 1928 | 7 |
| 1927 | 5 |
| 1926 | 6 |
| 1923 | 10 |
| 1921 | 7 |
| 1920 | 10 |
| 1919 | 9 |
| 1918 | 11 |
| 1917 | 7 |
| 1915 | 7 |
| 1914 | 7 |
| 1913 | 5 |
| 1912 | 5 |
| 1911 | 6 |
| 1906 | 5 |