Burton: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#4,419

among boys · ↑680 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Burton

How common

1 in 74,264

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1925

597 babies

All-time total

22,534

#781 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Burton popularity over time

22,534 babies have been named Burton since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	348	348	35	–	#238
1890s	–	313	313	31	-10%	#283
1900s	–	404	404	40	+29%	#253
1910s	10	2,741	2,751	275	+581%	#248
1920s	26	5,225	5,251	525	+91%	#222
1930s	7	4,273	4,280	428	-18%	#227
1940s	–	2,960	2,960	296	-31%	#301
1950s	–	1,998	1,998	200	-32%	#421
1960s	5	1,560	1,565	157	-22%	#562
1970s	–	980	980	98	-37%	#748
1980s	–	673	673	67	-31%	#908
1990s	–	323	323	32	-52%	#1,772
2000s	–	250	250	25	-23%	#3,226
2010s	–	279	279	28	+12%	#3,121
2020s (to 2025)	–	159	159	27	-5%	#3,347

Where Burton is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 boys (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 boys	Implied rank
2026	23	0.01	outside top 500
2027	23	0.01	outside top 500
2028	24	0.01	outside top 500
2029	24	0.01	outside top 500
2030	24	0.01	outside top 500

The story of Burton

Burton is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,419 in 2025 with 23 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 22,534 American babies have been named Burton. Its peak came in 1925, when 597 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Burton stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Burton?

The median living Burton is about 65 years old; half are between 48 and 78. An estimated 7,500 people named Burton are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Burton year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	23	#4,419
2024	–	–	19	#5,099
2023	–	–	31	#3,637
2022	–	–	35	#3,347
2021	–	–	31	#3,593
2020	–	–	20	#4,725
2019	–	–	24	#4,244
2018	–	–	23	#4,382
2017	–	–	25	#4,123
2016	–	–	25	#4,114
2015	–	–	36	#3,161
2014	–	–	27	#3,802
2013	–	–	30	#3,511
2012	–	–	36	#3,121
2011	–	–	27	#3,807
2010	–	–	26	#3,909
2009	–	–	26	#3,930
2008	–	–	19	#4,923
2007	–	–	29	#3,607
2006	–	–	25	#3,905
2005	–	–	31	#3,251
2004	–	–	30	#3,226
2003	–	–	23	#3,744
2002	–	–	24	#3,570
2001	–	–	22	#3,730
2000	–	–	21	#3,785
1995	–	–	25	#2,856
1990	–	–	43	#1,814
1985	–	–	56	#1,283
1980	–	–	97	#908
1975	–	–	79	#922
1970	–	–	121	#749
1965	–	–	160	#603
1960	–	–	186	#572
1955	–	–	183	#547
1950	–	–	252	#421
1945	–	–	273	#359
1940	–	–	345	#301
1935	–	–	399	#273
1930	–	–	560	#227
1925	–	–	597	#222
1920	–	–	433	#264
1915	–	–	328	#268
1910	–	–	53	#345
1905	–	–	30	#385
1900	–	–	38	#354
1895	–	–	27	#360
1890	–	–	28	#328
1885	–	–	32	#300
1880	–	–	34	#283

Famous people named Burton

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Burton Richter American physicist 1931–2018 · Contemporary
2 Burton Downing American cyclist 1885–1929 · 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Burton, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Burton?

The median living Burton is about 65 years old. Half of all living Burtons are between 48 and 78 years old.

How many people named Burton are alive today?

An estimated 7,500 people named Burton are alive in the United States, based on 22,534 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Burton mean?

Usually from Old English burhtun (fortified farmstead, farmstead near or belonging to a stronghold or manor), from burh + tun.

How popular is the name Burton in 2025?

Burton ranked #4,419 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 23 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Burton?

22,534 babies have been named Burton in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Burton most popular?

Burton peaked in 1925, when 597 newborns received the name.

Is Burton a boy or girl name?

Burton is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Burton rising or falling?

Burton has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Will Burton become more popular?

Burton looks stable. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 24 boys named Burton in 2030, ranking outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Who are famous people named Burton?

Well-known people named Burton include Burton Richter (physicist), Burton Downing (athlete).

Names like Burton

Names that sound and feel close to Burton: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Burton with similar names → More names starting with B →