Athol
Scottish place name meaning "new bothy" or "new cottage".
Name Census estimates that about 7 living Americans carry the first name Athol. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Athol today is around 93 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Athol births was 1921 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Athol. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Athol is about 93 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Athols were born before 1943.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Athol. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
7
~ 1 in 48,964,905 Americans
Peak year
1921
10 babies that year
Average age
93
years old
1947 SSA rank
#3,391
Tracked since 1904
Popularity
Athol: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Athol from the 1900s through to the 1940s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 75 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Athol by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Athol during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Athol
The name Athol is believed to have originated from the Gaelic language, with roots tracing back to the Scottish Highlands and Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic words "ath" meaning "ford" or "crossing," and "toll" meaning "hill" or "mound." This combination suggests that the name may have initially referred to a location or geographical feature, such as a ford or crossing near a hill.
One of the earliest known historical references to the name Athol can be found in the Scottish nobility. In the 12th century, a noble family known as the Atholl or Athole clan held significant power and influence in the region of Atholl, located in the Scottish county of Perthshire. This clan played a crucial role in Scottish history, and their name became closely associated with the area they ruled.
The name Athol gained further prominence during the 13th century when David de Strathbogie, Earl of Atholl (c. 1250-1326), became a prominent figure in Scottish politics and military affairs. He was a key supporter of King Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence against England.
Another notable figure bearing the name Athol was John Stewart, Earl of Atholl (1566-1603), who served as Lord Chancellor of Scotland and played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation. He was a staunch supporter of Protestantism and worked to establish the reformed religion in Scotland.
In the 18th century, John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl (1755-1830), was a prominent British nobleman and soldier. He served as a colonel in the British Army and was a member of the House of Lords. He is also known for his involvement in the establishment of the Blair Atholl estate, which remains a significant landmark in the Scottish Highlands.
Moving to the 19th century, Athol Mayhew (1836-1894) was a British journalist and author known for his works on urban life and social issues in London. His writings provided valuable insight into the living conditions and experiences of the working class during the Victorian era.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Athol throughout history, highlighting its Scottish and Gaelic origins and its association with nobility, military service, and literary achievements.
People
Athol + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Athol as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Athol: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Athol?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 7 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Athol going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 48,964,905 US residents.
Is Athol a common name?
We classify Athol as "Very Rare". It ranks above 23.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 136 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Athol most popular?
The single biggest year for Athol was 1921, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Athol is about 93 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Athol a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Athol in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.