"mill town, settlement by the mill"
Origin: Old English
Language: English
Milton
Pronunciation: [ m-IHLT-uhn ]
Does Milton flow with your last name?
A distinguished English name with towering literary prestige
English
American
Vintage
Classic
Literary
Traditional
Sophisticated
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Milton
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Milton
1 shorthand option for every setting
Meaning & Origin
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Milton
See all →What the Milton report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Milton the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Milton
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Milton head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Milton actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Milton
Milton is an Old English place name meaning 'mill town' or 'settlement by the mill,' derived from 'mylen' (mill) and 'tun' (settlement, farm, town). It was originally a surname for people from any of several English villages named Milton. The name gained prestige as a given name largely through the towering reputation of the poet John Milton, whose Paradise Lost shaped English literature for centuries.
Milton was a popular given name in the United States from the 1880s through the 1950s, particularly among families who admired literary or intellectual culture. It peaked in the 1920s-1930s and has declined steadily since. It is experiencing gentle revival interest as vintage names trend upward.
John Milton (1608-1674) wrote Paradise Lost, one of the greatest epic poems in the English language, cementing the name's literary prestige for generations. Milton Friedman, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, gave the name an intellectual dimension in the 20th century.
Historical Record
Milton first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 39,560 babies have been named Milton in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Milton is past its peak , currently ranked #1,429 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- John Milton wrote Paradise Lost while completely blind, dictating it to scribes and his daughters — one of literature's greatest achievements
- Milton Friedman's economic ideas directly shaped national policy in both the United States and United Kingdom during the 1980s
Milton in Other Languages
French
Milton
Spanish
Milton
Portuguese
Milton
Popularity Over Time
#1,429
Current Rank
Peaked 1950
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Milton
M
Milton Friedman
Scientist
1912
American Nobel Prize-winning economist who championed free market capitalism and monetarism
M
Milton Berle
Entertainer
1908
American comedian known as 'Uncle Miltie' and 'Mr. Television,' one of the first stars of American television
J
John Milton
Writer
1608
English poet and civil servant, author of Paradise Lost, widely considered one of the greatest works in the English lang...
English poet and civil servant, author of Paradise Lost, widely considered one of the greatest works in the English language
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Haiden
Boy
"from the heath"
#1,333
Gibson
Boy
"son of the bright pledge"
#1,622
Ulysses
Boy
"difficult journey"
#1,291
Todd
Boy
"fox"
#1,598
Freddy
Boy
"peaceful ruler"
#1,334
Compare Milton with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #1,429
- Total SSA Count
- 128
- Cultural Origins
- English American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Formal
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Common Nicknames
Milt
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Milton
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Milton fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Girl Name
Milton is also used as a girl name, ranked #24114.
View Milton as a girl name →Similar Names
See all names like Milton →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Milton with...
Same Origin Names (English)
See all English names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Milton
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Milton and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Milton sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Haiden
Boy
Old English origin
"from the heath"
#1,333 in US
Gibson
Boy
Germanic origin
"son of the bright pledge"
#1,622 in US
Ulysses
Boy
Greek origin
"difficult journey"
#1,291 in US
Todd
Boy
Middle English origin
"fox"
#1,598 in US
Freddy
Boy
Germanic origin
"peaceful ruler"
#1,334 in US
Steele
Boy
Middle English origin
"worker in steel (occupational surname)"
#1,384 in US
Draco
Boy
Greek origin
"seeing clearly, sharp-sighted"
#1,285 in US
Eddy
Boy
Old English via Edward origin
"rich friend"
#1,527 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Milton's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Milton
What does the name Milton mean?
"mill town, settlement by the mill" (from Old English). Milton is an Old English place name meaning 'mill town' or 'settlement by the mill,' derived from 'mylen' (mill) and 'tun' (settlement, farm, town). It was originally a surname for people from any of several English villages named Milton. The name gained prestige as a given name largely through the towering reputation of the poet John Milton, whose Paradise Lost shaped English literature for centuries.
What is the origin of the name Milton?
Milton has Old English, English, and American origins. In Old English, it means "mill town, settlement by the mill".
Is Milton a boy or girl name?
Milton is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #1429. As a girl name, it is ranked #24114. Milton is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Milton?
Milton is pronounced m-IHLT-uhn.
How popular is the name Milton?
Milton is currently ranked #1429 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Milton?
Common nicknames for Milton include Milt.
What are good middle names for Milton?
Popular middle name pairings include Milton James, Milton Edward, Milton Charles, Milton Henry, Milton Robert, and Milton Thomas.
What are good sibling names for Milton?
Names that pair well with Milton as siblings include Florence, Eleanor, Clifford, Mabel, Edith, and Walter.
How many syllables does Milton have?
Milton has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Milton a common or rare name?
Milton is an uncommon name, ranked #1429 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
About the Name Milton
Milton is a boy name with English and American origins . The name means "mill town, settlement by the mill" in Old English .
Is Milton a boy or girl name? Milton is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #1,429 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #24,114. Milton is more commonly used as a boy name.
Milton is currently ranked #1,429 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Milton has 2 syllables and is pronounced m-IHLT-uhn, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Milton include Milt. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Keep Exploring
Old English Names
Browse all names with this origin
M
Names Starting with M
More boy names like Milton
Unique Names
Uncommon names with character
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Boy Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis