Johnston
MeaningJohn's town · Scottish
- US rank
- #9,714
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #2,271 in 1914
7 babies were named Johnston in the US in 2025. It has climbed 891 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million boys, 1914–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Johnston you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Johnston
Johnston McCulley
American writer (1883-1958)
Choose Johnston and your child shares a first name with Johnston McCulley, an American writer. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Johnston, like who?” Johnston McCulley's Wikipedia article is available in 23 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Johnston McCulley on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)- How commonAbout 1 in every 243,902 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Johnston, 7 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Johnston would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryJohnston first shows up in US birth records in 1914, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 111 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1914, when it ranked #2,271. Today it's #9,714, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendJohnston has climbed 891 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #9,714. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningIn Scottish, Johnston means “John's town”. Our records link it to English and Scottish roots.
About the name Johnston
Johnston is a boy name of English and Scottish origin meaning “John's town”. It has 8 letters and 2 syllables, starting with J and ending in “-ton”. US birth records list Johnston for boys from 1914 to 2025, in 64 of those 112 years. Its best year was 1914, when it ranked #2,271 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #9,714, with 7 babies.
Origin:English namesScottish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 6.3 | 158,730 boys |
| 1920s | 3.0 | 333,333 boys |
| 1930s | 0.6 | 1,724,138 boys |
| 1940s | 0.8 | 1,219,512 boys |
| 1950s | 0.9 | 1,086,957 boys |
| 1960s | 0.8 | 1,234,568 boys |
| 1970s | 2.4 | 421,941 boys |
| 1980s | 3.0 | 327,869 boys |
| 1990s | 3.6 | 273,973 boys |
| 2000s | 5.3 | 190,114 boys |
| 2010s | 4.2 | 239,234 boys |
| 2020s | 4.4 | 225,564 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Johnston
What does the name Johnston mean?
Johnston means “John's town” in Scottish.
What is the origin of the name Johnston?
Johnston has English, Scottish roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Johnston a boy or girl name?
Johnston is a boy name.
How popular is the name Johnston?
Johnston ranked #9,714 for US boys in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1914 (#2,271).