Dayton is an English given name of American origin. It is derived from the surname "Day", which means "from Day's town". The surname itself originates from several Old English placenames that were named after a person called Day, such as DAY'S TOWN in Somerset and DAY'S TOWN in Suffolk.
The name Dayton gained popularity during the 19th century in America. It was also used occasionally during the Middle Ages in England. However, it is not one of the most commonly used names today.
There are no specific meanings or associations associated with the name Dayton besides its geographical origins. It does not have any particular cultural significance or historical figures attached to it.
Despite its lack of widespread use and recognition, some people may still choose the name Dayton for their child due to its unique sound and spelling, or perhaps as a nod to the city of Dayton in Ohio, which was named after Jonathan Dayton, a U.S. Senator from New Jersey who helped found the city.
The name Dayton has seen a significant rise in popularity over the past century and a half, with a total of 15,384 births recorded in the United States between 1880 and 2023.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there were relatively few babies named Dayton each year. From 1880 to 1910, the number of births varied between a low of 5 in 1897 and a high of 15 in 1910.
However, beginning around 1912, the popularity of the name started to increase dramatically. In that year, there were 21 births recorded, and by 1913, this number had jumped to 42. The following year, there were 49 babies named Dayton, and in 1915, a total of 71 newborns bore this name.
This trend continued throughout the early-to-mid 20th century. In the 1940s, the number of annual births fluctuated between around 30 and 80, with peaks in 1942 (56 births) and 1947 (56 births). The 1950s saw a slight decrease in popularity, with fewer than 50 babies named Dayton each year.
However, the late 1980s marked another resurgence for the name. In 1986, there were 71 births recorded, and this figure nearly doubled to 137 in 1990. The 1990s saw a continued rise in popularity, with over 200 babies named Dayton each year by the mid-decade.
The peak of popularity for the name Dayton occurred between 1995 and 2008, during which time there were consistently more than 300 births recorded annually. The highest point was reached in 2008, with a total of 568 babies named Dayton.
Since then, the popularity of the name has decreased somewhat but remains relatively high. In recent years (2016-2023), there have been around 200 births recorded each year.
In conclusion, while the name Dayton may not have always been a top choice for parents in the United States, its popularity has seen significant fluctuations over time. With a total of nearly 15,400 babies named Dayton since 1880, it is clear that this name continues to be appreciated by many families today.