Orson
Orson was the 1433rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 126 babies. Its best year was 1883, when it ranked 549th; the most babies were born in 2023 (132). Over the last ten years it has moved up 693 places. More babies were named Orson in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #1,433 boys, up 140 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 126boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2023132 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,714babies recorded
Orson popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,433 | 126 |
| 2020 | #1,573 | 104 |
| 2010 | #3,780 | 28 |
| 2000 | #7,989 | 8 |
| 1990 | #6,961 | 7 |
| 1980 | #3,381 | 13 |
| 1970 | #1,835 | 24 |
| 1960 | #3,262 | 8 |
| 1950 | #2,003 | 15 |
| 1940 | #1,460 | 22 |
| 1930 | #2,267 | 13 |
| 1920 | #1,943 | 18 |
| 1910 | #1,391 | 7 |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | #788 | 7 |
How popular is Orson, counting every spelling?
Orson is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #1,334 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,433 for Orson on its own. Together these spellings went to 131 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orson | 126 | #1,433 | 604 |
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 Orson?
126 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Orson (0.03 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Orson 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 67 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Orson.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Orson?
About 1,900 people born in the US named Orson are alive today, with a median age of 10; half are between 4 and 32. That makes Orson 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.
Orson by state
How common Orson was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Washington (1.8×). In 33 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Orson: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Orson, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Orson
How popular is the name Orson?
Orson was the 1433rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 126 babies. Its best year was 1883, when it ranked 549th; the most babies were born in 2023 (132). Over the last ten years it has moved up 693 places. More babies were named Orson in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Orson a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Orson in the US.
Where is Orson most popular?
In 2021–2025, Orson was most common in Minnesota (0.14 per 1,000 boys), followed by Washington and Utah.