Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1922

Horton

Meaning Horton is a masculine given name Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

Horton is a masculine given name.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Horton
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1922
28 babies
All-time total
616
#6,949 all-time among boys
First recorded
1888
in Social Security records

Horton popularity over time

616 babies have been named Horton since 1888, 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
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1888Boys

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 Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s 13 1 – #784
1890s 17 2 +31% #929
1900s 13 1 -24% #1,032
1910s 137 14 +954% #1,233
1920s 209 21 +53% #1,400
1930s 93 9 -56% #1,954
1940s 70 7 -25% #2,393
1950s 44 4 -37% #2,307
1960s 10 1 -77% #4,213
1970s – – – –
1980s 5 1 – #6,664
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s 5 1 – #12,957
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Horton

Horton is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1888, 616 American babies have been named Horton. Its peak came in 1922, when 28 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 Horton stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Horton?

The median living Horton is about 76 years old; half are between 68 and 83. An estimated 100 people named Horton are alive in the United States today.

median 76 020406080100

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

Horton year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 5 #12,957
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 5 #3,916
1945 – –
1940 10 #2,393
1935 8 #2,813
1930 15 #2,010
1925 17 #1,963
1920 15 #2,177
1915 16 #1,829
1910 – –
1905 7 #1,032
1900 – –
1895 7 #929
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Horton

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

  1. 1 Horton Foote American playwright and screenwriter (1916–2009) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Horton?

The median living Horton is about 76 years old. Half of all living Hortons are between 68 and 83 years old.

How many people named Horton are alive today?

An estimated 100 people named Horton are alive in the United States, based on 616 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Horton mean?

Horton is a masculine given name.

How popular is the name Horton in 2025?

Horton did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Horton?

616 babies have been named Horton in the United States since 1888, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Horton most popular?

Horton peaked in 1922, when 28 newborns received the name.

Is Horton a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Horton rising or falling?

Horton has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Horton?

Well-known people named Horton include Horton Foote (writer).

Names like Horton

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

Compare Horton with similar names → More names starting with H →