Milton Boy

Popularity: #796 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MIL-tun //ˈmɪltən//

Origin: English; Old English

Meaning: Old English: 'mill town'; Latin: 'from the mill'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Milton has its roots in Old English, derived from the elements "middel," meaning "middle," and "tun," meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." This etymology suggests a geographical origin, possibly referring to a settlement located in a central position. The name was first recorded in the form of "Middletun" in the 10th century, which later evolved into various forms, including "Miltun" and eventually "Milton." The transition into modern English occurred through the Norman influence on the English language after the 11th century, which integrated many Old English names into a more standardized form.

Historically, the name Milton gained prominence through notable figures, particularly John Milton, the 17th-century English poet and intellectual, best known for his epic poem "Paradise Lost," published in 1667. Milton's works have had a profound impact on English literature and thought, contributing to the name's association with literary excellence and intellectualism.

Additionally, the name appears in various historical texts and documents, often linked to places in England, such as Milton Keynes and Milton Abbas, which further solidified its usage. Culturally, the name Milton has been associated with themes of creativity, freedom of expression, and moral inquiry, largely due to John Milton's legacy.

The name has also been used in various literary and artistic contexts, reinforcing its significance in English-speaking cultures. While diminutive forms like "Milt" may exist, the name Milton itself carries a weight of historical and cultural resonance that has allowed it to endure through centuries.

Famous people named Milton

In this section, you will find notable people named Milton. 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 Milton who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Milton 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.

Milton Friedman was an economist best known for Capitalism and Freedom, A Monetary History of the United States, and his work on the permanent income hypothesis.

Milton Berle was an actor and comedian best known for The Milton Berle Show, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and his role in the early days of television.

Milton Glaser was a graphic designer best known for the I ♥ NY logo, the Bob Dylan poster, and his work in the field of visual arts.

Fictional characters named Milton

The following list of fictional characters named Milton 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.

Milton Waddams is a fictional character from the film Office Space. He is an introverted office worker known for his obsession with his stapler and his frequent complaints about being overlooked at work.

Milton is a fictional character from the video game series The Binding of Isaac. They are a character that players can unlock, known for their unique abilities and role within the game's narrative.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Milton, 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 Milton. 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 Milton was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Milton has ranked as high as #174 nationally, which occurred in 1920, and has been most popular in New York, Texas, California, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Milton has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Milton 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 Milton was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Milton (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 18
22%
FL 10
12%
CA 9
11%
GA 8
10%
VA 7
9%
NY 7
9%
WI 6
7%
LA 6
7%
NC 6
7%
MS 5
6%

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 Milton.

YearBirths
2024128
2023127
2022151
2021136
2020144
2019149
2018153
2017167
2016149
2015153
2014175
2013171
2012168
2011159
2010188
2009190
2008218
2007222
2006238
2005231
2004244
2003243
2002260
2001264
2000280
1999228
1998217
1997248
1996281
1995271
1994282
1993318
1992330
1991333
1990324
1989347
1988365
1987364
1986341
1985366
1984374
1983372
1982410
1981402
1980402
1979375
1978415
1977412
1976441
1975437
1974451
1973455
1972485
1971591
1970633
1969652
1968680
1967710
1966765
1965824
1964979
1963993
19621,113
19611,105
19601,181
19591,219
19581,326
19571,362
19561,482
19551,430
19541,581
19531,531
19521,576
19511,520
19501,553
19491,559
19481,546
19471,638
19461,507
19451,349
19441,457
19431,508
19421,507
19411,385
19401,423
19391,372
19381,400
19371,385
19361,441
19351,532
19341,516
19331,486
19321,710
19311,834
19302,053
19292,029
19282,170
19272,358
19262,418
19252,567
19242,474
19232,446
19222,556
19212,588
19202,592
19192,448
19182,454
19172,394
19162,345
19152,225
19141,834
19131,419
19121,319
1911608
1910476
1909369
1908346
1907292
1906303
1905299
1904230
1903210
1902207
1901197
1900242
1899207
1898225
1897161
1896194
1895188
1894156
1893174
1892173
1891141
1890126
1889171
1888165
1887122
1886145
1885130
1884150
1883149
1882155
1881143
1880149