Dawson
Dawson was the 143rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,487 babies. Its best year was 1999, when it ranked 136th with 2,802 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 95 places. More babies were named Dawson in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning son of Daw (David) · English, Hebrew
Say it DAW-suhn /ˈdɔsən/
- Rank in 2025
- #143 boys, up 54 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 2,487boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19992,802 babies
- Total since 1880
- 54,199babies recorded
What does the name Dawson mean?
Dawson is an English patronymic surname, 'son of Daw'. Wiktionary explains Daw as a Middle English pet form of David. David is a Hebrew name that DMNES glosses 'beloved', borne by the shepherd boy who became king of Israel. As a first name Dawson is a modern transfer from the surname, used mainly in North America. Davidson and Davison are fuller forms of the same surname idea, 'son of David'.
Daw (Middle English, “pet form of David”)-son (Middle English, “son of”)דָּוִד (Biblical Hebrew, “David, beloved”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: David, Davidson, Dawes.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Dawson', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'David', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Wikipedia, 'Dawson (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Dawson popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 1,397 since 1998, 81 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #143 | 2,487 |
| 2020 | #197 | 1,918 |
| 2010 | #289 | 1,168 |
| 2000 | #168 | 2,312 |
| 1990 | #1,385 | 65 |
| 1980 | #1,915 | 29 |
| 1970 | #1,755 | 25 |
| 1960 | #1,989 | 17 |
| 1950 | #1,372 | 28 |
| 1940 | #1,232 | 30 |
| 1930 | #1,571 | 22 |
| 1920 | #1,258 | 33 |
| 1910 | #995 | 11 |
| 1900 | #1,358 | 5 |
| 1890 | #825 | 7 |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Dawson, counting every spelling?
Dawson is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #154 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #143 for Dawson on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,504 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson | 2,487 | #143 | 11,404 |
| Dawsen | 17 | #5,437 | 80 |
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 Dawson?
2,487 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Dawson (0.69 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Dawson 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 3 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Dawson.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Dawson?
About 51,000 people born in the US named Dawson are alive today, with a median age of 14; half are between 6 and 23. That makes Dawson mostly worn by children and young adults.
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.
Dawson by state
How common Dawson was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in West Virginia (4.1×), Alaska (3.4×), South Dakota (3.3×), Montana (3.1×), North Dakota (2.8×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in California, New Jersey, Rhode Island.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Dawson: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Dawson, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Dawson · Sibling names for Dawson
Questions about the name Dawson
What does Dawson mean?
Dawson means “son of Daw (David)” (English, Hebrew origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Dawson?
Dawson was the 143rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,487 babies. Its best year was 1999, when it ranked 136th with 2,802 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 95 places. More babies were named Dawson in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Dawson a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Dawson in the US.
Where is Dawson most popular?
In 2021–2025, Dawson was most common in West Virginia (5.39 per 1,000 boys), followed by Alaska and South Dakota.