The first name Hamilton
A boy’s name from English meaning “blunt”, “flat-topped”, “hill”.
Pronounced /ˈhæməltən/ 3 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
English origin
Hamilton means “blunt”, “flat-topped”, “hill” in English.
From Old English *Hameldūne, from hamel (“blunt, flat-topped”) + dūne (“hill”). The Scottish surname is from the place in Leicestershire. The dollar-bill sense is from the portrait of Alexander Hamilton featured on it.
More names that mean mountain.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 5 boys were named Hamilton, making it the 3,684th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2018, with 14 births (#1,683).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Hamilton with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Hamilton at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 38 boys born in the United States were named Hamilton, the 3,152nd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2016, when 98 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Hamilton in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Hamilton in German too.
Nicknames and spellings
Nicknames for Hamilton
- Hammy
Famous people named Hamilton
41 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Hamilton SmithAmerican microbiologist (1931–2025)
- Hámilton RicardColombian association football player, born 1974
- Erskine Hamilton Childers4th President of Ireland (1905-1974)
- Hamilton FishAmerican politician (1808–1893)
- Hamilton LuskeAmerican film director (1903-1968)
- Hamilton HumeAustralian explorer (1797–1873)
- Hamilton CampBritish actor (1934–2005)
- George Henry Hamilton TateAmerican zoologist and botanist (1894-1953)
- Neil Hamilton FairleyAustralian tropical physician and military officer (1891-1966)
- Hamilton JukesBritish ice hockey player (1895–1951)
- Hamilton SabotFrench gymnast, born 1987
- Hamilton MacFaddenAmerican actor, director and screenwriter (1901-1977)
More English boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Hamilton mean?
- Hamilton means “blunt”, “flat-topped”, “hill” in English.
- What is the origin of the name Hamilton?
- From Old English *Hameldūne, from hamel (“blunt, flat-topped”) + dūne (“hill”). The Scottish surname is from the place in Leicestershire. The dollar-bill sense is from the portrait of Alexander Hamilton featured on it.
- How popular is the name Hamilton?
- In 2025, 5 boys born in England and Wales were named Hamilton, ranking 3,684th. Its peak was 2018, with 14 births.
- What are nicknames for Hamilton?
- Common nicknames for Hamilton include Hammy.
- Is Hamilton a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 6,517 US babies named Hamilton since 1880 were boys.
- When was Hamilton most popular?
- 2016 in the United States, when 98 babies were named Hamilton, its highest rank at 1,630th.
- How do you pronounce Hamilton?
- Hamilton is /ˈhæməltən/, 3 syllables.
- Is Hamilton also a surname?
- Yes. Hamilton is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.