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Hamilton Name Meaning, Origins & History

Hamilton

Pronunciation: HAM-uhl-tuhn

Meaning Male Origin surnames Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#3,152
TREND
512
Peak Years
2016, 2014, 2008
Lowest Years
1888, 1893, 1892
Energy Archetype
Ambitious & Self-Sufficient

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 Hamilton in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Hamilton

  • More than 6 thousand babies named Hamilton: U.S. records list 6,517 babies given the name Hamilton from 1880 through 2025.

What Does the Name Hamilton Mean?

Hamilton is a transferred surname used as a given name. The surname comes from a place name in Lanarkshire, Scotland, recorded in an older form as Hameldon. The place name is usually explained with Old English elements, but the first element is disputed. One common explanation takes it from the Old English adjective hamel, often translated "flat-topped" or "crooked," plus dūn, "hill," giving "flat-topped hill" or "crooked hill." Another explanation takes the first element as the Old English personal name Hamela, giving "Hamela's hill." The language of origin is Old English, while the place name and surname belong to Scottish history. As a given name, Hamilton is an English-language transferred use, not a Scottish Gaelic name.

Hamilton Name History & Origins

The place name Hameldon in Lanarkshire is recorded in the 13th century. The Scottish surname Hamilton grew from that estate. The family traces to Walter FitzGilbert, a Scottish landholder who appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296 and held lands in the area. His descendants took the surname Hamilton, and the family became established at Cadzow in Lanarkshire. The town that grew there was originally called Cadzow; it was renamed Hamilton in the 15th century after the family.

The surname spread beyond Scotland. It was carried to Ulster by Scottish settlers and became common in parts of Ireland, especially in the north. It also appears in England and later in North America. As a first name, Hamilton is a transferred use of the surname. It has been used as a masculine given name in English-speaking countries. In the United States, the name is familiar from Alexander Hamilton, a Founding Father and the first Secretary of the Treasury.

The 2015 musical Hamilton is a modern use of the name and does not represent its origin. The name is also found in many place names, such as Hamilton, Ontario, and Hamilton, Bermuda, which were named after people who bore the surname.

How Popular is the Name Hamilton?

Hamilton recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2016. Its best rank was #347 in 1883.

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 Hamilton Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You attract success and money. You are a lover of nature and do not need others for your happiness. You are self sufficient. You strive for material success and power and have business sense. You possess strong organizational abilities, can be a good manager, and executive by nature. You are capable of great achievement in business and finance. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.

You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.

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