"old settlement"
Elton
Pronunciation: [ EHLT-uhn ]
Rocketman — an English gem with star power
Meaning & Origin
Things to Know About This Name
- Strongly associated with Elton John; child may face 'are you named after Elton John?' throughout life
The Story of Elton
Elton is an English surname-turned-given-name derived from the Old English words 'Ella' (a personal name) plus 'tun' (settlement, enclosure, town), meaning 'Ella's town.' There are several villages named Elton across England — in Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Durham, and Herefordshire. The name began crossing over to given name use in the 19th century, following the broader fashion for place-derived surnames as first names.
Elton was a modest but steady name in English-speaking countries through the early 20th century. Its most famous bearer, Sir Elton John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight), transformed the name's cultural associations from quiet English village to flamboyant global superstar. The name is now virtually inseparable from his legacy.
Sir Elton John is one of the best-selling music artists in history, having sold over 300 million records worldwide. His adoption of the name Elton (inspired partly by his band mate Elton Dean) transformed an unremarkable English place-name into a globally recognized icon of music and pop culture.
Fun Facts
- Sir Elton John was born Reginald Dwight and chose the name Elton after Elton Dean of Bluesology
- Elton, Cambridgeshire is one of several English villages giving the name its geographic roots
- Elton John has won 5 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Tony Award, and been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II
Elton in Other Languages
Famous People Named Elton
Elton John
Musician
1947
British singer-songwriter and one of the best-selling musicians of all time, known for Rocket Man, Crocodile Rock, and T...
British singer-songwriter and one of the best-selling musicians of all time, known for Rocket Man, Crocodile Rock, and Tiny Dancer
Elton Mayo
Scientist
1880
Australian psychologist who pioneered the human relations movement in organizational management
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #2,085
- Total SSA Count
- 72
- Cultural Origins
- English American
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Girl Name
Elton is also used as a girl name, ranked #10280.
View Elton as a girl name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Elton
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About the Name Elton
Elton is a boy name with English and American origins . The name means "old settlement" in Old English .
Is Elton a boy or girl name? Elton is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #2,085 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #10,280. Elton is more commonly used as a boy name.
Elton is currently ranked #2,085 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Elton has 2 syllables and is pronounced EHLT-uhn, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Elton include El. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.