Karson
Karson was the 453rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 690 babies. Its best year was 2018, when it ranked 265th with 1,345 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 160 places. More babies were named Karson in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Carson) Origin uncertain · Scottish
- Rank in 2025
- #453 boys, down 187 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 690boys
- Girls and boys
- 5% girls, 95% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20181,345 babies
- Total since 1880
- 23,500babies recorded
What does the name Karson mean?
Karson is a spelling of Carson, pronounced the same way, so it shares Carson's meaning and origin.
Carson is a Scottish surname whose origin is not known. Wikipedia describes its meaning as unknown; Wiktionary offers a tentative link to a Gaelic word carr, 'rock' or 'fort', plus -son, and also notes it may be a form of the Norman surname Curzon. Neither is established. As a first name it is a transferred surname, used in the US mostly for boys, and occasionally for girls.
How sure is this? Uncertain. Origin unknown; a Gaelic 'rock/fort' element and a link to Curzon are suggestions only.
Related names: Karson, Carsen.
See also: Scottish names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Carson', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Carson (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Karson popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,612 | #453 | 42 | 690 |
| 2020 | #3,044 | #266 | 53 | 1,289 |
| 2010 | #2,656 | #380 | 68 | 760 |
| 2000 | #1,928 | #726 | 88 | 238 |
| 1990 | #7,566 | #2,827 | 11 | 23 |
| 1980 | #11,125 | #3,512 | 5 | 12 |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Karson, counting every spelling?
Karson is a spelling of Carson, a name family that ranked #100 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #453 for Karson on its own. Together these spellings went to 3,726 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson | 2,883 | #124 | 16,179 |
| Karson | 690 | #453 | 4,574 |
| Karsen | 81 | #1,928 | 533 |
| Carsen | 65 | #2,185 | 473 |
| Karsin | 7 | #10,188 | 52 |
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 Karson?
690 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Karson (0.19 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Karson 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 12 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Karson.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Karson?
About 21,200 people born in the US named Karson are alive today, with a median age of 10; half are between 6 and 16. That makes Karson 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.
Karson by state
How common Karson was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Mississippi (6.7×), West Virginia (4.2×), Louisiana (3.7×), Alabama (3.5×), South Carolina (3.0×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Connecticut, California, Massachusetts.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Karson: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Karson, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Karson
What does Karson mean?
The origin of Carson is uncertain: Origin unknown; a Gaelic 'rock/fort' element and a link to Curzon are suggestions only.
How popular is the name Karson?
Karson was the 453rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 690 babies. Its best year was 2018, when it ranked 265th with 1,345 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 160 places. More babies were named Karson in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Karson a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 5% girls, 95% boys given the name Karson in the US.
Where is Karson most popular?
In 2021–2025, Karson was most common in Mississippi (3.54 per 1,000 boys), followed by West Virginia and Louisiana.