Houston
Boy name · Celtic · English · Gaelic · Scottish
MeaningHugh's town · Scottish
- US rank
- #675
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #318 in 1901
402 babies were named Houston in the US in 2025. It has climbed 55 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1987–2025
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Houston you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Houston
Houston Stewart Chamberlain
British-German racialist philosopher (1855–1927)
Choose Houston and your child shares a first name with Houston Stewart Chamberlain, a British-German racialist philosopher. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Houston, like who?” Houston Stewart Chamberlain's Wikipedia article is available in 47 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Houston Stewart Chamberlain on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0 de (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 4,248 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Houston, 402 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Houston would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryHouston has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Houstons, and counting.
- Best yearIts best year was 1901, when it reached #318.
- Then vs nowHouston is 2.2× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 9,174 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 4,248.
- TrendHouston has climbed 55 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #675. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedHouston is most popular in Alabama, where it ranks #238, followed by Mississippi (#239) and Kentucky (#245). It's in the top 1,000 in 22 states.
- MeaningIn Scottish, Houston means “Hugh's town”. Our records link it to Celtic, English and Gaelic roots.
About the name Houston
Houston is a boy name of Celtic, English and Gaelic origin meaning “Hugh's town”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with H and ending in “-ton”. US birth records list Houston for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1901, when it ranked #318 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #675, with 402 babies.
Origin:Celtic namesEnglish namesGaelic namesScottish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.0 | 200,000 girls |
| 1990s | 6.6 | 151,286 girls |
| 2000s | 4.4 | 229,358 girls |
| 2010s | 5.8 | 170,940 girls |
| 2020s | 11 | 90,361 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 147 | 6,792 boys |
| 1890s | 162 | 6,165 boys |
| 1900s | 226 | 4,421 boys |
| 1910s | 167 | 5,972 boys |
| 1920s | 143 | 6,977 boys |
| 1930s | 104 | 9,624 boys |
| 1940s | 76 | 13,233 boys |
| 1950s | 42 | 23,855 boys |
| 1960s | 33 | 30,066 boys |
| 1970s | 29 | 34,435 boys |
| 1980s | 62 | 16,010 boys |
| 1990s | 119 | 8,436 boys |
| 2000s | 110 | 9,096 boys |
| 2010s | 140 | 7,144 boys |
| 2020s | 224 | 4,456 boys |
More Celtic boy names
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Unisex name: Logan · little hollow
- Unisex name: Rowan · little red-haired one
- Unisex name: Nolan · descendant of Nuallán
- Unisex name: Cameron · crooked nose
- Boy name: Ian · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Gael · a Gael
- Boy name: Arthur · possibly bear
Questions about the name Houston
What does the name Houston mean?
Houston means “Hugh's town” in Scottish.
What is the origin of the name Houston?
Houston has Celtic, English, Gaelic, Scottish roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Owen, Logan, Rowan.
Is Houston a boy or girl name?
Houston is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Houston?
Houston ranked #675 for US boys in 2025, given to 402 babies. Its best year was 1901 (#318).