Newt
Newt is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Small amphibian; alternative short form of Newton ('new town').
Origin and history
Newt originated as a vocabulary name referring to the small amphibian, derived from the Middle English 'an ewte' (misdivided from 'an efte'). Historically, it has also functioned as an informal diminutive of Newton. In the United States, it remains a rare masculine given name with steady, low-volume historical usage.
Popularity in the United States
852 babies in the United States have been named Newt since 1880. It ranks #3825 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1838.
States where it is most popular
- TX (52.4 %)
- TN (47.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 100 |
| 1890-1900 | 53 |
| 1900-1910 | 46 |
| 1910-1920 | 120 |
| 1920-1930 | 110 |
| 1930-1940 | 83 |
| 1940-1950 | 54 |
| 1950-1960 | 44 |
| 1960-1970 | 26 |
| 1970-1980 | 0 |
| 1980-1990 | 0 |
| 1990-2000 | 12 |
| 2000-2010 | 11 |
| 2010-2019 | 104 |
| 2020-2029 | 89 |
Famous people named Newt
- Newt Gingrich: Politician, Author
Fun facts
- The word 'newt' evolved through a process called re-bracketing, where the phrase 'an efte' was misheard over centuries as 'a newt'.
- Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich brought high public visibility to the name.