"Carl's town, farmer's settlement"
Origin: Old English
Language: English
Carlton
Pronunciation: [ k-AHRLT-uhn ]
Does Carlton flow with your last name?
A stately English place-name meaning 'town of free men'
English
American
British
Bold
Vintage
Strong
Unique
Sophisticated
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Carlton
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Carlton
3 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Carlton
See all →What the Carlton report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Carlton 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 Carlton
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Carlton head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Carlton 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
Things to Know About This Name
- Associated with Carlton Banks, the prep/nerdy character from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (since 1990)
The Story of Carlton
Carlton is an Old English place name meaning 'settlement of free men' or 'Carl's town,' from 'carl' (free man, from Old Norse 'karl') and 'tun' (settlement, farm, or town). The name is found as a village name throughout England, particularly in Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, and Cambridgeshire, where dozens of towns called Carlton exist. Like many place-names, Carlton became a respected surname and then a given name, part of the grand Old English naming tradition.
Carlton as a masculine given name was moderately popular in the United States through much of the 20th century. As a girl's name, it is part of the recent surge of strong surname-names crossing gender lines, following Emerson, Hudson, and Sutton. The distinctive '-ton' ending gives it a certain gender-neutral elegance.
In American culture, Carlton Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996) made the name immediately recognizable — a wealthy, preppy, dance-loving character played by Alfonso Ribeiro. For girls, Carlton sidesteps this association and channels the name's stately English heritage instead.
Historical Record
Carlton first appeared in US Social Security records in 1951.
Over 196 babies have been named Carlton in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Carlton is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #68,101 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- There are over 20 villages named Carlton in England, concentrated in Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire
- Carlton Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air popularized the 'Carlton Dance' — Alfonso Ribeiro's iconic moves
- The Carlton Hotel in London (now the Institute of Contemporary Arts) was one of the most glamorous hotels in Edwardian England
Carlton in Other Languages
French
Carlton
German
Carlton
English
Carlton
Spanish
Carlton
Old English
Carlentun
Popularity Over Time
#68,101
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Hidden Gem
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Burneta
Girl
"little brown one"
#68,258
Lindell
Girl
"linden tree valley"
#67,940
Marth
Girl
"mistress, lady of the house"
#67,954
Sarabel
Girl
"Beautiful"
#67,971
Rynette
Girl
"queen"
#67,929
Compare Carlton with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #68,101
- Total SSA Count
- 5
- Cultural Origins
- English American British
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Carli
Carly
Carl
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
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 2-1 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, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Carlton
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Carlton fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Boy Name
Carlton is also used as a boy name, ranked #2842.
View Carlton as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Carlton →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 Carlton with...
Same Origin Names (English)
See all English names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Carlton
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Carlton and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Carlton 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 →
Burneta
Girl
Old French origin
"little brown one"
#68,258 in US
Lindell
Girl
Old English origin
"linden tree valley"
#67,940 in US
Marth
Girl
Aramaic origin
"mistress, lady of the house"
#67,954 in US
Sarabel
Girl
French origin
"Beautiful"
#67,971 in US
Rynette
Girl
Old Norse via French Rina origin
"queen"
#67,929 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Carlton's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carlton
What does the name Carlton mean?
"Carl's town, farmer's settlement" (from Old English). Carlton is an Old English place name meaning 'settlement of free men' or 'Carl's town,' from 'carl' (free man, from Old Norse 'karl') and 'tun' (settlement, farm, or town). The name is found as a village name throughout England, particularly in Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, and Cambridgeshire, where dozens of towns called Carlton exist. Like many place-names, Carlton became a respected surname and then a given name, part of the grand Old English naming tradition.
What is the origin of the name Carlton?
Carlton has Old English, English, American, and British origins. In Old English, it means "Carl's town, farmer's settlement".
Is Carlton a boy or girl name?
Carlton is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #68101. As a boy name, it is ranked #2842. Carlton is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Carlton?
Carlton is pronounced k-AHRLT-uhn.
How popular is the name Carlton?
Carlton is currently ranked #68101 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Carlton?
Common nicknames for Carlton include Carli, Carly, and Carl.
What are good middle names for Carlton?
Popular middle name pairings include Carlton Grace, Carlton Rose, Carlton Leigh, Carlton James, Carlton Mae, and Carlton Blue.
What are good sibling names for Carlton?
Names that pair well with Carlton as siblings include Brighton, Emerson, Sutton, Hudson, Whitley, and Hartley.
How many syllables does Carlton have?
Carlton has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Carlton a common or rare name?
Carlton is an uncommon name, ranked #68101 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Carlton?
About the Name Carlton
Carlton is a girl name with English, American, and British origins . The name means "Carl's town, farmer's settlement" in Old English .
Is Carlton a boy or girl name? Carlton is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #68,101 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #2,842. Carlton is more commonly used as a boy name.
Carlton is currently ranked #68,101 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Carlton has 2 syllables and is pronounced k-AHRLT-uhn, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Carlton include Carli, Carly, and Carl. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Carlton include Carly, Carla, Carlee, Carlie, Carleigh . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Old English Names
Browse all names with this origin
C
Names Starting with C
More girl names like Carlton
Rising Names
Names gaining popularity right now
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Girl 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