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Charlton Name Meaning, Origins & History

Charlton

Pronunciation: CHARL-tun

Meaning From the peasant's town Origin Old English Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#5,902
TREND
3,204
Peak Years
1971, 1975, 1959
Lowest Years
1888, 1904, 1892
Energy Archetype
Cheerful & Expressive

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of boys named Charlton in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Charlton

  • More than 3 thousand babies named Charlton: U.S. records list 3,535 babies given the name Charlton from 1880 through 2025. Even 5 girls received the name Charlton - about 1 girl for every 706 boys.

What Does the Name Charlton Mean?

Charlton is an English habitational name meaning "settlement of the free peasants" or "freemen's settlement." It comes from Old English ceorl, "free peasant," "freeman," or "man of common rank," and tūn, "enclosure," "farmstead," or "settlement." The literal sense is a settlement associated with ceorls, the free commoners of Anglo-Saxon society. The first element is not the later name Charles, which comes from a different Germanic root. A second explanation derives some Charlton place names from an Old English personal name, Ceorl, plus tūn, giving "Ceorl's settlement." The two derivations are difficult to separate for every individual place, so the common-noun explanation is the usual general meaning.

Charlton Name History & Origins

Charlton originated as a place name and later became a surname. There are several English places called Charlton, including the district of Charlton in southeast London and villages in Hampshire, Northamptonshire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. In the Middle Ages, people who moved from such a place could be identified by its name, which is how the surname Charlton arose. Medieval forms such as Cerletone show the Old English elements behind the modern spelling.

As a given name, Charlton is mainly a transferred use of the surname. It has been used in the English-speaking world as a first name, often as a family name preserved for a child, rather than as a name with a separate ancient history. The actor Charlton Heston is a notable bearer, but the given name did not originate with him.

How Popular is the Name Charlton?

Charlton recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1971. Its best rank was #821 in 1890.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

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How the Name Charlton Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are cheerful and friendly, but are apt to have an emotional life. You like to have several lines of effort going at once. You are a good talker and promoter and seldom worry over anything. At times, you can be impatient, and impulsive. You have the ability to bring an idea to completion. You can express yourself joyously and constructively. You might be psychic, but not know it. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.

You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.

✦ Charlton's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Charlton's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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