Layton
/ˈleɪ.tən/
Layton is an English surname from Old English leac-tun, combining leac (“leek”) and tun (“enclosure, settlement”)—“leek garden” or “healing herb settlement.” The village of Layton in Lancashire preserves this name.
As a given name, Layton follows the established pattern of English place-name surnames entering the given-name register. Its structure parallels Clayton, Peyton, and Dayton.
Layton peaked at No. 541 in 2015 with 528 births. In 2024 it ranks No. 692 with 389 births, below its mid-decade peak.
What the name Layton means
The video game series Professor Layton (Nintendo DS, 2007 onward) introduced the name to a generation of young gamers, giving it a gentle, puzzle-solving intellectual persona.
Two syllables—LAY-tun—feel clean and accessible. The long vowel opening and the familiar -ton suffix make it immediately readable and easy to spell.
Parents choosing Layton often appreciate its Old English botanical roots—the leek connection gives it a quiet nature-name quality despite its suburban English-surname look.
It sits comfortably among place-derived name cousins Peyton, Clayton, and Weston—all English -ton surnames in use as given names.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Layton
Layton - similar names
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