Newton
Newton: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈn(j)uːtən/ · /ˈnɛʊ̯tən/
Meaning and origin of Newton
Root meaning: “new town”
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English Neweton, from Old English nēowa tūn (“new town”). Compare same construction in Italian Napoli (“Naples”) and in Arabic نَابُلُس (nābulus, “Nablus”). The unexpected Early Modern pronunciation with /ɛʊ̯/ instead of /ɪʊ̯/, as securely attested in Richard Hodges' 1644 English Primrose and confirmed by obsolete Welsh Newtwnn, is due to trisyllabic shortening in Old English nēowa tūn or Middle English Neweton.
How popular is Newton?
Since 1880, 5 girls and 8,177 boys in the U.S. have been named Newton (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #5575 in 1922. Its highest rank for boys was #182 in 1880. In 2025, 15 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Newton
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname boy names
Sibling name ideas for Newton
Sister and brother names that share Newton's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Newton FAQ
What does the name Newton mean?
Newton traces back to a root meaning "new town". A male given name transferred from the surname. Inherited from Middle English Neweton, from Old English nēowa tūn (“new town”). Compare same construction in Italian Napoli (“Naples”) and in Arabic نَابُلُس (nābulus, “Nablus”). The unexpected Early Modern pronunciation with /ɛʊ̯/ instead of /ɪʊ̯/, as securely attested in Richard Hodges' 1644 English Primrose and confirmed by obsolete Welsh Newtwnn, is due to trisyllabic shortening in Old English nēowa tūn or Middle English Neweton.
What is the origin of the name Newton?
Newton is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Newton?
Since 1880, 5 girls and 8,177 boys in the U.S. have been named Newton (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #5575 in 1922. Its highest rank for boys was #182 in 1880. In 2025, 15 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Newton a boy or girl name?
Newton is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 5 girls and 8,177 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.