UK boy's name
Kelton
A Scottish surname transferred to a masculine given name of uncertain meaning.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Kelton is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kelton popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3848, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 13 births.
This profile covers 114 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1996 to 2020. 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 31% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 113 living people in the UK are called Kelton. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Kelton ranked #3848 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 13 boys were registered as Kelton.
- • About 113 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kelton as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3848
2020
Births in 2020
4
Latest year
Peak year
1997
13 births
Estimated living
113
2026
Meaning
What does Kelton mean?
The name Kelton is an English given name derived from the Old English words "cyll" meaning "spring" or "stream" and "tun" meaning "town" or "settlement". It is believed to have originated as a place name, referring to a town or village located near a spring or stream.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Kelton can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears as a place name, likely referring to a settlement in the vicinity of a natural spring or stream.
Throughout history, the name Kelton has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Kelton of Bridlington, an English Benedictine monk who lived in the 12th century and is believed to have been born around 1109. He is known for his writings on religious subjects and his involvement in the establishment of the Priory of Bridlington in Yorkshire.
Another historical figure with the name Kelton was Sir Kelton Colvile, an English soldier and landowner who lived in the 16th century. He served as a member of Parliament and was knighted for his military service during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
In the 18th century, Kelton Burr was a notable American politician and lawyer from Connecticut. He served as a member of the Connecticut General Assembly and was actively involved in the American Revolutionary War.
The 19th century saw the birth of Kelton Tremain, an American author and editor born in 1834. He is best known for his contributions to the literary magazine "The Atlantic Monthly" and his writings on American history and culture.
In more recent times, Kelton Elijah Digges was an American poet and educator who lived from 1903 to 1962. He taught at several universities and published several volumes of poetry, earning recognition for his contributions to the literary world.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Kelton. While the name has its roots in Old English and originally referred to a specific geographic location, it has been carried on by notable figures across various fields and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Kelton over time
The chart below shows babies named Kelton registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Kelton, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2020, compared with 13 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Kelton by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kelton 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 | #3848 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4096 | 25 | 6 |
| 2000s | #2618 | 53 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1735 | 32 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Kelton
- Kieran 30,429
- Kyle 28,463
- Kai 24,432
- Kian 17,666
- Kayden 8,305
- Kevin 7,927
- Kane 7,149
- Kaiden 5,762
- Kieron 4,547
- Kacper 4,366
- Kye 4,012
- Kit 3,529
FAQ
Kelton: questions and answers
How popular is the name Kelton in the UK right now?
In 2020, Kelton was ranked #3848 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Kelton most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 13 babies registered as Kelton in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Kelton?
A Scottish surname transferred to a masculine given name of uncertain meaning.
How many people are called Kelton in the UK?
A total of 114 babies have been registered as Kelton across the 21 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.