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

Popularity of Elton by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Elton is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Elton being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 69 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Elton.

The history of the first name Elton

The name Elton is an English masculine given name derived from the Old English words "el" meaning "elder tree" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement". It essentially means "elder tree town" or a settlement near an elder tree.

In medieval times, the name was commonly spelled as Elton, Eltun, or Aeltun. It was a locational surname given to someone who lived near an elder tree settlement before becoming an established first name in its own right. The earliest recorded example of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as a place name.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Elton of Beverley, an English Catholic saint who lived in the 11th century. He was a renowned hermit and monk known for his piety and asceticism. Another historical figure with the name was Sir Elton Wood (1592-1670), an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Elton gained popularity among the English gentry and nobility. Notable bearers include Sir Elton Hampden (1588-1634), an English politician and military commander who fought in the English Civil War, and Elton Broughton (1609-1681), an English writer and religious philosopher.

In more recent history, the name has been borne by several prominent individuals, including Elton Dean (1945-2006), an English saxophonist and composer known for his work in the jazz and rock genres, and Sir Elton John (born 1947), the internationally acclaimed English singer, songwriter, and composer.

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 Elton was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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