Overton is an uncommon given name of English origin, derived from the surname Overton which means 'from the upper farm'. The name is believed to have been a habitational name for someone who lived at an 'upper' farm. Historically, it has been more prevalent as a surname than as a first name, but its usage as a given name has increased slightly in recent years. In terms of popularity, Overton ranks quite low among English names, contributing to its distinctive and unique character.
The name Overton experienced a significant spike in popularity from 1918 to 1920, with 29 births recorded in 1918 and consistently high numbers in the following years (17 births in 1919 and 26 births in 1920). However, after the early 1920s, the popularity of the name declined steadily. There were only 5 births each in 1934 and 1953, marking a significant decrease from its peak decades earlier. The number of annual Overton births has since remained relatively low and stable, ranging between 5 to 12 births per year, with occasional spikes such as the 7 births recorded in 1996 and 2003. Overall, there were a total of 544 births named Overton from 1884 to 2003.