Dolton is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin. It is believed to have been coined by author Stephen King for the character Dolton Baragh in his novel "The Long Walk." However, it is not widely recognized as a traditional given name and may be considered more of an invented or fictional name.
The meaning and history of Dolton are therefore closely tied to its literary origins. In "The Long Walk," Dolton Baragh is depicted as a formidable opponent in the deadly contest known as The Long Walk. His character is likely intended to evoke strength, determination, and perhaps even ruthlessness.
Despite its fictional roots, Dolton has begun to appear on birth records in recent years, possibly inspired by Stephen King's works or simply drawn to its unique sound. It remains a rare name, however, and continues to be associated primarily with the literary realm.
In summary, Dolton is an American given name with no known historical or linguistic roots beyond its fictional origins. Its meaning is derived from the character Dolton Baragh in Stephen King's "The Long Walk," where it signifies strength, determination, and perhaps ruthlessness. While it has begun to appear on birth records in recent years, Dolton remains a rare and distinctive name.
The name Dolton has seen varied popularity over the years in the United States, with a total of 451 babies given this name since 1917.
In the early decades of the 20th century, there were several years where Dolton was quite popular. In 1917 and 1924, there were respectively 10 and 11 births, which are the highest numbers recorded in that time period. This popularity continued into the 1930s, with several years seeing around 9 births each.
However, from the late 1950s onwards, Dolton's popularity started to decline significantly, reaching a low point of just one birth per year during some years in the late 20th century.
Interestingly, there has been a recent resurgence in the use of the name Dolton. In the early 21st century, from 1995 onwards, there were several years where more than 10 babies were named Dolton each year. This trend continued until around 2016, after which the popularity of the name seemed to decline again.
Overall, while Dolton has not been one of the most popular names in the United States throughout history, it has still seen significant use over the years, with periods of both high and low popularity.