Princeton
PRIHNS-tuhn
Princeton is a place name from Princeton, New Jersey, whose name derives from Prince and the Old English -ton (“estate, settlement”). The town was named for a local landowner named Prince or after Henry Prince.
Princeton University, founded in 1746, is the dominant cultural association. The Ivy League institution gives the name strong connotations of academic excellence and social prestige.
Princeton peaked at No. 402 in 2017 with 793 births. In 2024 it ranks No. 614 with 464 births, easing back from its mid-decade heights.
What the name Princeton means
In popular culture, Princeton is the main character in the Broadway musical Avenue Q (2003), adding a self-aware, ironic layer to the name’s academic weight.
Three syllables—PRIN-ston—feel formal yet familiar. The regal Prince opening and -ton suffix give it the same structure as other prestige place names like Hamilton.
Parents who choose Princeton often live far from New Jersey. The name works as an aspirational signal, carrying institutional prestige as a personal statement.
It shares naming DNA with Kingston, Kensington, and Hampton—place names transplanted into the nursery as markers of distinction.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Princeton - similar names
Not seeing what you want? Browse all names by origin or popularity