Elton is a name of English origin that has been used for both boys and girls throughout history. It is derived from the given name Eadwine, which was popular among the Anglo-Saxons during the Middle Ages. The name Eadwine is composed of two Old English elements: "ead", meaning wealth or fortune, and "win", meaning friend.
Over time, Eadwine evolved into the name Edwin in English-speaking countries. In the 19th century, there was a trend to shorten names like Edwin by dropping the final syllable, resulting in the name Elton. This variant spelling gained popularity as a given name for both boys and girls.
Some notable people named Elton include Elton John, the famous British singer-songwriter, and Elton Mayo, an Australian psychologist known for his work on human relations in industry. However, it is important to note that these individuals do not necessarily represent the typical characteristics or associations of the name Elton.
In summary, Elton is a name with English origins that has evolved over time from its original form, Eadwine. Its meaning is associated with wealth and friendship. While it has been used for both boys and girls historically, it is more commonly seen as a boy's name today.
The name Elton has seen significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century and a half, with a notable increase in usage from around 1885 onwards. The peak years for the name were during World War I, with 1914 to 1919 seeing over 300 births each year. However, since the 1970s, the popularity of the name has steadily declined, reaching a low point in recent years, with fewer than 80 births per year since 2016. Overall, there have been a total of 21,219 births named Elton from 1880 to 2023.