Carlton
Carlton is a boys' name of English origin meaning “settlement of free men.” Carlton derives from Old English 'carlton,' meaning a settlement of free peasants.
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how do you pronounce Carlton?
KARL-ton
where does the name Carlton come from?
From elements meaning freeman and town: a free peasant settlement. In the related form Charlton the sound change is attributed to Old Norse influence.
It has deep roots as an English place name and aristocratic surname. In American pop culture, Carlton Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air made the name iconic, though it retains its traditional English gentleman quality.
how popular is this name?
Carlton has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 124 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 2. It peaked at #217 in 1937, and ranked #967 in 2005.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2005 | #967 |
| 2002 | #917 |
| 2001 | #805 |
| 2000 | #750 |
| 1999 | #730 |
| 1998 | #687 |
| 1997 | #631 |
| 1996 | #615 |
| 1990 | #425 |
| 1980 | #389 |
| 1970 | #327 |
| 1960 | #274 |
| 1950 | #277 |
| 1940 | #244 |
| 1937 | #217 |
| 1930 | #258 |
| 1920 | #260 |
| 1910 | #256 |
| 1900 | #354 |
| 1890 | #434 |
| 1880 | #505 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Carlton fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Carlton
Carlton is chiefly an English place name and surname.
who are famous people named Carlton?
- Carlton Banks (iconic character from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
- Carlton Fisk (legendary American baseball catcher)
what are the nicknames and variants of Carlton?
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Carlton?
what names go well with Carlton?
Sibling names that share Carlton's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Carlton
What does the name Carlton mean?
Carlton means “settlement of free men”.
What is the origin of the name Carlton?
Carlton comes from the English naming tradition. Related forms include Charlton.
How popular is the name Carlton?
Carlton ranked #967 in the US in 2005, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1937, at #217, and it has spent 124 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Carlton a boy or girl name?
Carlton is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Carlton?
Carlton is pronounced KARL-ton, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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