Princeton is an English place and surname name meaning prince's town or settlement.
Princeton began as an English place name and surname, literally meaning something like "prince's town," from the royal title prince and the Old English suffix tun, meaning settlement or enclosure. As a given name, it belongs to the modern American habit of turning surnames and place names into first names. Unlike medieval forenames that traveled through saints' cults or ancient myth, Princeton arrived by way of geography, family naming customs, and the prestige attached to certain institutions and landscapes.
That prestige matters enormously to the name's modern aura. For many listeners, Princeton is inseparable from Princeton University and from the New Jersey town whose name suggests intellect, privilege, and polished tradition. Because of that association, the name has evolved into one that sounds aspirational and refined, with the tailored rhythm of names like Kingston or Harrison.
It is a relatively recent choice as a first name, and its perception is shaped less by ancient legend than by social meaning: education, status, East Coast heritage, and a certain crisp American elegance. Even so, its structure is old-fashioned in the best sense, built from antique English elements, which helps it feel grounded rather than invented.