UK boy's name
Alston
An English masculine name derived from a surname meaning "from the old town".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Alston is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Alston popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4632, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2014 to 2014. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Alston is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Alston. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2015 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Alston ranked #4632 for boys in England and Wales in 2014, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2014, when 3 boys were registered as Alston.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Alston as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4632
2014
Births in 2014
3
Latest year
Peak year
2014
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Alston mean?
The name Alston originates from the Old English language, with roots tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain. It derives from the place name "Alstan's tun," which translates to "Alstan's town" or "Alstan's settlement." The name Alstan itself is a combination of the Old English elements "ald" meaning "old" and "stan" meaning "stone" or "rock."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Alston can be found in the Domesday Book, a historic manuscript compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This document mentions several locations with the name Alston or variations like Alestun and Alestane, indicating the presence of settlements associated with the name.
In the 12th century, the name Alston was documented in the form of a surname in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland, a record of tax payments made to the English Crown. This suggests that the name had already gained widespread usage as a personal name by that time.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Alston. One of the earliest recorded was Sir Thomas Alston (c. 1345-1420), an English knight and landowner who fought in the Hundred Years' War. Another prominent figure was Edward Alston (1598-1669), an English Puritan minister and author who served as the President of Harvard College from 1637 to 1638.
In the 18th century, Joseph Alston (1779-1816) was a prominent American politician who served as the 57th Governor of South Carolina. His contemporary, Willis Alston (1769-1837), was a member of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina.
In the 19th century, Edward Alston (1828-1895) was a British-born Australian politician who served as the Premier of Victoria from 1883 to 1886. He played a significant role in the Federation of Australia and was a strong advocate for democratic reforms.
While the name Alston has been more commonly used as a surname in recent times, its origins as a given name can be traced back to the early medieval period in England, reflecting the rich history and linguistic roots of the Anglo-Saxon era.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Alston by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Alston was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4632 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Alston
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Alston: questions and answers
How popular is the name Alston in the UK right now?
In 2014, Alston was ranked #4632 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Alston most popular?
The peak year on record was 2014, with 3 babies registered as Alston in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Alston?
An English masculine name derived from a surname meaning "from the old town".
How many people are called Alston in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Alston across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.