Colten
Colten was the 966th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 238 babies. Its best year was 2011, when it ranked 386th; the most babies were born in 2009 (757). Over the last ten years it has moved down 416 places. More babies were named Colten in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Colton) coal town (place name) · Old English
- Rank in 2025
- #966 boys, down 211 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 238boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2009757 babies
- Total since 1880
- 16,358babies recorded
What does the name Colten mean?
Colten is a spelling of Colton, pronounced the same way, so it shares Colton's meaning and origin.
Colton is an English place name found in several counties, which became a surname. Wiktionary derives it from Old English cola, 'coal' (or charcoal), and tun, 'farmstead, settlement'; some Coltons may instead contain an Old English personal name Cola, so the first element is not certain for every place. As a first name Colton is a modern American transfer from the surname, part of the late-20th-century fashion for -ton names.
cola (Old English, “coal, charcoal (or the personal name Cola)”)tūn (Old English, “farmstead, settlement”)
How sure is this? Probable. The -ton element is certain; the first element may be 'coal' or a personal name, depending on the place.
Related names: Colten, Kolton, Colt, Cole.
See also: English names, names from places.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Colton', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wiktionary, entry '-ton', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Colton (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Colten popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #966 | 238 |
| 2020 | #755 | 320 |
| 2010 | #390 | 729 |
| 2000 | #531 | 411 |
| 1990 | #618 | 266 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Colten, counting every spelling?
Colten is a spelling of Colton, a name family that ranked #84 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #966 for Colten on its own. Together these spellings went to 4,377 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colton | 3,420 | #103 | 19,219 |
| Kolton | 489 | #594 | 2,787 |
| Colten | 238 | #966 | 1,277 |
| Kolten | 153 | #1,283 | 793 |
| Coltyn | 28 | #3,862 | 152 |
| Koltyn | 25 | #4,200 | 150 |
| Coltin | 14 | #6,193 | 98 |
| Koltin | 10 | #7,981 | 70 |
| Coltan | — | — | 36 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Colten?
238 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Colten (0.07 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Colten born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 35 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Colten.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Colten?
About 16,100 people born in the US named Colten are alive today, with a median age of 18; half are between 12 and 27. That makes Colten mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Colten by state
How common Colten was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Kentucky (2.9×), Missouri (2.6×), Michigan (2.5×), Indiana (2.5×), Alabama (2.4×). In 19 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Colten: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Colten, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Colten
What does Colten mean?
Colten is a spelling of Colton, which means “coal town (place name)” (Old English origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Colten?
Colten was the 966th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 238 babies. Its best year was 2011, when it ranked 386th; the most babies were born in 2009 (757). Over the last ten years it has moved down 416 places. More babies were named Colten in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Colten a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Colten in the US.
Where is Colten most popular?
In 2021–2025, Colten was most common in Kentucky (0.43 per 1,000 boys), followed by Missouri and Michigan.