Total births
1,529
Boys' name · since 1913
Karlton
Since 1913, U.S. Social Security records show 1,529 babies named Karlton, peaking in 1991. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #9968
- among boys today
- 1,529
- born since 1913
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 30%
- more common than other boys
Karlton currently ranks #9968 among boys' names in America, with 1,529 babies recorded since 1913.
Social Security Administration records show Karlton recorded 1,529 times among boys since 1913, holding rank #9968 nationally today, ahead of 30% of boys, peaking in the 1990s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1913 to 2024.
- #9968 among boys today
- 1,529 born since 1913
- 1990s peak decade
- 30% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Karlton is currently the #9968 boys' name in America, more common than 30% of boys - 1,529 born since 1913, peaking in the 1990s.
- #9968
- among boys today
- 1,529
- born since 1913
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 30%
- more common than other boys
Karlton vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#9968
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 30% of names given to boys today.
1990s
Peak decade
17% of everyone ever named Karlton was born in this single decade.
1991
Single peak year
47 babies were named Karlton in 1991 - its busiest year on record.
How Karlton compares
1,529 Top 24% higher than 76% 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
Karlton's all-time total is 4x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Karlton | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,529 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 47 | 23 | 22,252 |
Karlton's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Karlton's SSA record in two at 1974 and the more recent half accounts for 57% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 43%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1913, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1991 peak of 47, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Karlton at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1991
Current rank
#9,968
Active since
1913
Karlton popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1913–2024
- Peak year (1991)
- 47
- Annual births at peak, across 112 years of records
Karlton by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Karlton's strongest decade.
256 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 17% of all-time use.
Karlton births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 15
1910s
15 births
- 1920s 37
1920s
37 births
- 1930s 47
1930s
47 births
- 1940s 63
1940s
63 births
- 1950s
1950s
162 births
- 1960s
1960s
238 births
- 1970s
1970s
243 births
- 1980s
1980s
245 births
- 1990s
1990s
256 births
- 2000s
2000s
123 births
- 2010s 73
2010s
73 births
- 2020s 27
2020s
27 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 256 births (17% of all-time use).
How Karlton 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 Karlton's total volume
Karlton vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Karlton by state
Where Karlton concentrates geographically, total births since 1913
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 17 | 1.1% |
| #2 | California | | 12 | 0.8% |
| #3 | Michigan | | 12 | 0.8% |
| #4 | New York | | 6 | 0.4% |
| #5 | Alabama | | 5 | 0.3% |
| #6 | Ohio | | 5 | 0.3% |
Texas share of Karlton's total US births 1.1%
Even split
17 of 1,529 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Karlton? ▼
1,529 babies have been named Karlton since 1913. It currently ranks #9968 among boys. The peak year was 1991 with 47 births.
When was Karlton most popular? ▼
Karlton was most popular in the 1990s decade with 256 total births. The single peak year was 1991.
Where is Karlton most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Karlton are Texas (17 births), California (12 births), Michigan (12 births).
How long has the name Karlton been used? ▼
Karlton has been recorded in Social Security data since 1913, spanning 112 years of data through 2024.
What names are similar to Karlton? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Karl, Karter, Karson, Kareem, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Karlton's data
- Karlton's decade-level peak was the 1990s (256 total births); usage has since declined to 27 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Karltons (17 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas 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 Karlton
Nearby Names Like Karlton
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Karlton
Karl Boy
#1689 100,836 births
Karter Boy
#248 29,465 births
Karson Boy
#397 21,394 births
Kareem Boy
#675 18,161 births
Karim Boy
#820 6,886 births
Compare Karlton side by side: Karlton vs Karl Karlton vs Karter Karlton vs Karson
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Karlton
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1913–2024 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Karlton: #9968 Boys' Name - 1,529 Births, Peak 1991." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/karlton. 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 Karlton 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 July 2026.