Morton Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Morton originates from Old English, meaning 'settlement by the moor'. It has evolved through various forms in the English language and is characterized by its traditional roots. There is no biblical relevance associated with the name. It gained popularity in England during the Middle Ages and is perceived today as a classic name. Notable figures with this name include Morton Downey Jr. and Morton Feldman.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Morton"
Pronunciation
/ˈmɔːrtən/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Morton is derived from the Old English elements 'mor' meaning 'moor' or 'marsh' and 'tun' meaning 'settlement' or 'enclosure'. Thus, it can be interpreted as 'settlement by the moor'.
Meaning
settlement by the moor
Language Evolution
Old English: Mortun, Middle English: Mortone, Modern English: Morton
Historical Usage
The name Morton gained popularity in England during the Middle Ages, particularly as a surname, before becoming a given name in the 19th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Morton, Mort, Morten
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Morton is viewed as a traditional and somewhat classic name, often associated with heritage and stability.
Famous People
Morton Downey Jr., Morton Feldman, Morton Salt
📊 Morton Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Morton Name Visualizations
✨ Morton Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 482 peak births in 1923
Geographic Spread
Popular across 25 US states, with strongest presence in New York
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 8 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Morton"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Morton"
"Morton" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 283rd of 7545 | 6,167 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 367th of 6773 | 4,405 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1084th of 7552 | 915 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2350th of 10718 | 266 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 6202nd of 16616 | 99 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 12877th of 24088 | 48 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 14070th of 23106 | 33 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 9107th of 9107 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Morton" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
22.81% 323rd/1416 |
9.43% 130th/1379 |
24.22% 573rd/2366 |
47.55% 543rd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
25.36% 392nd/1546 |
10.60% 165th/1556 |
37.57% 884th/2353 |
33.94% 525th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
43.56% 970th/2227 |
28.97% 704th/2430 |
59.52% 1698th/2853 |
46.88% 1301st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
63.82% 2223rd/3483 |
64.38% 2265th/3518 |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Morton" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Morton"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Morton" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Morton" in the United States
The name Morton is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Morton has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Morton' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 283rd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 367th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1084th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2350th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6202nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 12877th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 14070th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 9107th out of 9107 names. Discover how the name 'Morton' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.