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    The first name Morton

    A boy’s name from English meaning “moor”, “marsh”, “settlement”.

    Pronounced [ˈmɔɹtn̩] 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Morton means “moor”, “marsh”, “settlement” in English.

    From Old English mōr (“moor, marsh”) + tūn (“settlement”).

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Morton last appeared in the official list in 2011, given to 5 boys. It peaked in 2005, with 5 births (#2,754).

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    28
    babies named Morton, 1996–2025
    #3,300
    rank in 2011
    2005
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Morton with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Morton at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2021, 8 boys born in the United States were named Morton, the 9,407th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1923, when 482 were.

    0250500 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    12,341
    babies named Morton since 1880
    #9,407
    rank in 2021
    1923
    peak year

    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.

    Famous people named Morton

    27 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Henry Morton Stanley
      British journalist and explorer (1841–1904)
    • Morton Feldman
      American composer (1926–1987)
    • Morton Gould
      American composer, conductor, arranger, and pianist (1913–1996)
    • Morton Betts
      English footballer (1847-1914)
    • Morton Subotnick
      American neo-classical composer and avant-garde electronic musician (born 1933)
    • Morton Kaplan
      American editor (1921-2017)
    • Samuel Morton Peto
      British politician, building contractor, railway contractor (1809-1889)
    • Morton Smith
      American historian and academic (1915–1991)
    • Morton Stevens
      American film score composer (1929-1991)
    • Morton Prince
      American physician who specialized in neurology and abnormal psychology, 1854–1929
    • Morton DaCosta
      American actor, writer and director (1914–1989)
    • Morton S. Wilkinson
      American politician (1819-1894)

    More English boys’ names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Morton mean?
    Morton means “moor”, “marsh”, “settlement” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Morton?
    From Old English mōr (“moor, marsh”) + tūn (“settlement”).
    How popular is the name Morton?
    In 2011, 5 boys born in England and Wales were named Morton, ranking 3,300th. Its peak was 2005, with 5 births.
    Is Morton a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 12,341 US babies named Morton since 1880 were boys.
    When was Morton most popular?
    1923 in the United States, when 482 babies were named Morton, its highest rank at 254th.
    How do you pronounce Morton?
    Morton is [ˈmɔɹtn̩], 2 syllables.
    Is Morton also a surname?
    Yes. Morton is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.