Total births
1,120
Boys' name · since 1911
Elston
Elston has 1,120 recorded births since 1911 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1961 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #9952
- among boys today
- 1,120
- born since 1911
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 30%
- more common than other boys
Elston currently ranks #9952 among boys' names in America, with 1,120 babies recorded since 1911.
Social Security Administration records show Elston recorded 1,120 times among boys since 1911, holding rank #9952 nationally today, ahead of 30% of boys, peaking in the 1960s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1911 to 2025.
- #9952 among boys today
- 1,120 born since 1911
- 1960s peak decade
- 30% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Elston is currently the #9952 boys' name in America, more common than 30% of boys - 1,120 born since 1911, peaking in the 1960s.
- #9952
- among boys today
- 1,120
- born since 1911
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 30%
- more common than other boys
Elston vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#9952
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 30% of names given to boys today.
1960s
Peak decade
22% of everyone ever named Elston was born in this single decade.
1961
Single peak year
50 babies were named Elston in 1961 - its busiest year on record.
How Elston compares
1,120 Top 29% higher than 71% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Elston's all-time total is 3x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Elston | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,120 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 50 | 23 | 22,252 |
Elston's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Elston's full recorded timeline at 1966, 35% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 65% in the earlier half -- the name was more prevalent in its earlier era than it is today. Its quietest year on record was 1911, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1961 peak of 50 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Elston at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1961
Current rank
#9,952
Active since
1911
Elston popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1911–2025
- Peak year (1961)
- 50
- Annual births at peak, across 115 years of records
Elston popularity over time - girls
5 total births recorded since 2016 (Elston as girls' name)
Elston by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1960s was Elston's strongest decade.
250 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 22% of all-time use.
Elston births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
101 births
- 1920s
1920s
140 births
- 1930s 73
1930s
73 births
- 1940s 35
1940s
35 births
- 1950s
1950s
172 births
- 1960s
1960s
250 births
- 1970s 50
1970s
50 births
- 1980s 91
1980s
91 births
- 1990s 56
1990s
56 births
- 2000s 47
2000s
47 births
- 2010s 64
2010s
64 births
- 2020s 41
2020s
41 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 250 births (22% of all-time use).
How Elston compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Elston's total volume
Elston vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Elston by state
Where Elston concentrates geographically, total births since 1911
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louisiana | | 21 | 1.9% |
| #2 | Alabama | | 17 | 1.5% |
| #3 | Texas | | 12 | 1.1% |
| #4 | New York | | 11 | 1.0% |
| #5 | Missouri | | 10 | 0.9% |
| #6 | California | | 5 | 0.4% |
Louisiana share of Elston's total US births 1.9%
Even split
21 of 1,120 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Elston? ▼
Since 1911, Social Security records show 1,120 babies named Elston. Today it holds rank #9952 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1961, with 50 births.
When was Elston most popular? ▼
Elston was most popular in the 1960s decade with 250 total births. The single peak year was 1961.
Where is Elston most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Elston are Louisiana (21 births), Alabama (17 births), Texas (12 births).
How long has the name Elston been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Elston since 1911 -- 115 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Elston? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Elson, Elsie, Elsworth, Elster, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Elston's data
- Elston's decade-level peak was the 1960s (250 total births); usage has since declined to 41 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Louisiana records the most Elstons (21 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Louisiana names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Elston
Nearby Names Like Elston
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Elston
Elson Boy
#6496 1,333 births
Elsie Boy
886 births
Elsworth Boy
829 births
Elster Boy
139 births
Elsa Boy
21 births
Compare Elston side by side: Elston vs Elson Elston vs Elsie Elston vs Elsworth
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Elston
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1911–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Elston: #9952 Boys' Name - 1,120 Births, Peak 1961." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/elston. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Elston draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.