Colson
Colson was the 311th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,099 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 800 places. More babies were named Colson in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning son of Coll (Nicholas) · English
Say it KOHL-sun /ˈkoʊlsən/
- Rank in 2025
- #311 boys, up 40 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,099boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20251,099 babies
- Total since 1880
- 9,729babies recorded
What does the name Colson mean?
Colson is an English patronymic surname, "son of Coll". Wiktionary derives it from Coll, a medieval short form of Nicholas, plus -son; DMNES gives Nicholas as Greek for "victory of the people". Some families may also derive it from Cole. As a first name it is recent, and it is known from the musician Colson Baker (Machine Gun Kelly).
Coll (Middle English, “short form of Nicholas”)-son (English, “son of”)
How sure is this? Probable.
Related names: Colton, Colin, Nicholson, Coleson.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Colson', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Nicholas', DMNES, Durham University
Colson popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #311 | 1,099 |
| 2020 | #351 | 902 |
| 2010 | #1,191 | 151 |
| 2000 | #1,946 | 53 |
| 1990 | #5,052 | 10 |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Colson, counting every spelling?
Colson is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #186 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #311 for Colson on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,102 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colson | 1,099 | #311 | 5,082 |
| Kolson | 269 | #887 | 1,286 |
| Colsen | 523 | #566 | 1,203 |
| Kolsen | 150 | #1,304 | 484 |
| Kolsyn | 37 | #3,217 | 185 |
| Colsyn | 19 | #5,073 | 102 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Colson?
1,099 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Colson (0.30 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Colson born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 8 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Colson.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Colson?
About 9,600 people born in the US named Colson are alive today, with a median age of 5; half are between 3 and 9. That makes Colson a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Colson by state
How common Colson was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in West Virginia (5.8×), Maine (3.0×), Kentucky (2.9×), Indiana (2.8×), Ohio (2.5×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in New Mexico, California, Nevada.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Colson: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Colson, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Colson · Sibling names for Colson
Questions about the name Colson
What does Colson mean?
Colson means “son of Coll (Nicholas)” (English origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Colson?
Colson was the 311th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,099 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 800 places. More babies were named Colson in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Colson a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Colson in the US.
Where is Colson most popular?
In 2021–2025, Colson was most common in West Virginia (3.40 per 1,000 boys), followed by Wyoming and Maine.