Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Alston
BoyEnglish, Old English· “from an English place name”
- Meaning
- from an English place name
- Origin
- English, Old English
- Pronunciation
- AWL-stuhn
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #5,617
- US babies 2025
- 16
- Best rank
- #860 (1894)
- Peak year
- 2017
Meaning and origin of Alston
Alston is an English and Old English name that is usually said to mean “from an English place name”.
Alston is an English surname taken from several place names in England. Most go back to an Old English personal name combined with tun, "settlement" or "farmstead," though the personal name differs from place to place, and some families may have taken the surname from the Old English name Alstan. As a first name it is used mainly in the United States, often in honor of a family surname. It is said AWL-stuhn. The name has a quiet, distinguished feel, somewhere between Alden and Weston, and Al is an obvious short form. Allston, with a double l, is another spelling.
Popularity over time
Alston first appears in US Social Security records in 1894. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 1 different years, starting in 1894. Its best national rank was #860 in 1894, and the most babies received it in 2017, when 70 were named Alston. In 2025, 16 babies were named Alston, and it ranked #5,617 nationally. That is 72% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #2,136 in 1920, #2,324 in 1950, #3,624 in 1980, #2,138 in 2000, #2,733 in 2010, and #5,617 in 2025. Of the 2,578 US boys named Alston since records began, 23% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 471 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Abdallah, Aleksandr, Bram, Atom, and Ulices.
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named Alston over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Alston is usually pronounced AWL-stuhn, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with A and ends in “-on”.
Middle names for Alston
A few middle names that flow with Alston: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Alston
Similar names
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PREHS-tuhn
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KIHNG-stuhn
“king's town” · English
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BREHN-tuhn
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“long hill” · English
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“broom-covered hill” · Old English
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Colton Boy
KOHL-tuhn
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Easton Boy
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Ashton Boy
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Weston Boy
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“western town” · Old English
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Lists that include Alston
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Alston mean?
Alston is an English and Old English name that is usually said to mean “from an English place name”.
What is the origin of the name Alston?
Alston has English and Old English roots. Alston is an English surname taken from several place names in England.
Is Alston a popular name?
Not especially. Alston ranked #5,617 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Alston a boy or girl name?
Alston is mainly a boy's name. About 99% of US babies named Alston over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Alston?
Alston is usually pronounced AWL-stuhn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings