Dayton first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Dayton has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Dayton

Of English origin, meaning "day's town" or "town in the daylight".

Popularity of Dayton by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Dayton is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 95% of people named Dayton being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 180 male babies and 15 female babies born with the name Dayton.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 15 baby girls were named Dayton in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 180 15
2022 197 12
2021 198 19
2020 218 15
2019 238 26
2018 263 19
2017 264 11
2016 246 22
2015 311 17
2014 352 17
2013 338 27
2012 423 16
2011 394 20
2010 428 14
2009 518 27
2008 568 31
2007 515 15
2006 469 27
2005 456 19
2004 483 23
2003 486 21
2002 463 28
2001 452 24
2000 371 25
1999 356 25
1998 353 12
1997 279 14
1996 278 14
1995 224 13
1994 195 16
1993 156 11
1992 121 9
1991 113 5
1990 137 0
1989 81 0
1988 76 0
1987 54 0
1986 71 0
1985 58 0
1984 49 0
1983 51 0
1982 43 0
1981 55 0
1980 52 0
1979 44 0
1978 42 0
1977 34 0
1976 32 0
1975 32 0
1974 50 0

The history of the first name Dayton

The name Dayton is believed to have its origins in the Old English language, derived from the combination of the words "dæg" meaning "day" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a settlement or town associated with a particular day or event.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Dayton can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086 to record the landholdings and population of England. In this document, the name appears as "Dægtun," referring to a location in the county of Wiltshire.

Throughout history, the name Dayton has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest was Dayton Ogden (c. 1620-1698), an American colonial merchant and landowner who founded the town of Elizabethtown, New Jersey, in 1664.

Another prominent figure was Jonathan Dayton (1760-1824), a Revolutionary War officer and prominent politician who served as the third Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and a member of the Continental Congress. He played a significant role in the ratification of the United States Constitution.

In the literary world, Dayton Lummis (1825-1892) was an American author, historian, and journalist who wrote extensively about the American West and Native American cultures. His works include "A New Mexico David and Other Stories and Sketches of the Southwest" and "The Land of Poco Tiempo."

Dayton Clarence Miller (1866-1963) was an American physicist and acoustician, known for his pioneering work in the field of sound and vibration. He developed the Millerscope, an instrument used to visualize sound waves, and made significant contributions to the understanding of the behavior of sound.

In more recent times, Dayton Allen (1949-2004) was an American actor and voice artist, best known for his roles in films such as "The Howling" and "Cujo," as well as his voice work in various animated series and video games.

While these are just a few examples, the name Dayton has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history, reflecting its enduring appeal and connection to its ancient roots.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Dayton was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Dayton, please contact us.

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Dayton first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/dayton-meaning-and-history/.

"Dayton first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/dayton-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Dayton first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/dayton-meaning-and-history/.

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