UK boy's name
Denton
From an English surname meaning "valley town.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Denton is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Denton popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4001, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 6 births.
This profile covers 64 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. 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.
The latest count is about 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 64 living people in the UK are called Denton. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Denton ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 6 boys were registered as Denton.
- • About 64 living people in the UK are estimated to have Denton as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4001
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
2007
6 births
Estimated living
64
2026
Meaning
What does Denton mean?
The given name Denton has its roots in the Old English language, tracing back to the 7th century CE. It is believed to have originated as a locational surname derived from the town of Denton in Lancashire, England. The name itself is composed of the Old English elements "denu," meaning "valley," and "tun," meaning "enclosure" or "settlement," suggesting it initially referred to someone from the settlement in the valley.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Denton can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book mentions a landowner named Denton, indicating the name's usage during the Norman period in England.
Throughout the centuries, the name Denton has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest prominent figures bearing this name was Sir James Denton (c. 1525-1599), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another noteworthy individual was John Denton (1625-1708), an English historian and author who wrote extensively about the history and antiquities of Cumberland and Westmorland.
In the realm of religion, Denton features in the annals of the Church of England. The Reverend Thomas Denton (1805-1888) was an influential Anglican clergyman and author, known for his works on church history and theology. Additionally, Jeremiah Denton (1924-2014), a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral and former Vietnam War prisoner of war, gained recognition for his resilience and unwavering patriotism during his captivity.
The name Denton has also found its way into the world of literature. Thomas Denton (1805-1858) was an English novelist and playwright, best known for his semi-autobiographical novel "The Life and Opinions of a Fifth-Monarchy Man." Moreover, Bradbury Denton (1822-1892), an English author and journalist, contributed significantly to the literature of his time.
While the name Denton may have evolved over the centuries, its origins in the Old English language and its association with notable figures throughout history have helped to preserve its enduring legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Denton over time
The chart below shows babies named Denton registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Denton, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Denton by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Denton 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4001 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4324 | 25 | 7 |
| 2000s | #3045 | 26 | 6 |
| 1990s | #2874 | 9 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Denton
- Daniel 120,900
- Dylan 60,836
- David 37,852
- Dominic 20,480
- Declan 11,657
- Dexter 11,627
- Danny 8,434
- Dean 5,329
- Dillon 4,113
- Douglas 3,773
- Dominik 3,494
- Damian 3,486
FAQ
Denton: questions and answers
How popular is the name Denton in the UK right now?
In 2022, Denton was ranked #4001 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Denton most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 6 babies registered as Denton in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Denton?
From an English surname meaning "valley town.".
How many people are called Denton in the UK?
A total of 64 babies have been registered as Denton across the 17 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.