Watson
Watson was the 1011th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 224 babies. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked 397th; the most babies were born in 2021 (466). Over the last ten years it has moved up 403 places. More babies were named Watson in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning son of Wat (Walter) · English, Germanic
Say it WAHT-sun /ˈwɑtsən/
- Rank in 2025
- #1,011 boys, down 408 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 224boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2021466 babies
- Total since 1880
- 6,721babies recorded
What does the name Watson mean?
Watson is a northern English and Scottish patronymic surname, 'son of Wat', Wat being a medieval pet form of Walter. Walter is a Germanic name made of wald 'rule, power' and hari 'army', brought to England by the Normans. As a given name it is a surname transfer; the best-known Watson in fiction is Dr. John Watson, Sherlock Holmes's companion.
Wat (Middle English, “pet form of Walter”)-son (English, “son of”)wald + hari (Old High German, “rule + army”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Walter, Watts, Wade.
See also: English names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Watson', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Walter', DMNES (Durham University)
Watson popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 22 since 2018, 5 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,011 | 224 |
| 2020 | #603 | 454 |
| 2010 | #3,178 | 36 |
| 2000 | #5,568 | 13 |
| 1990 | #3,597 | 17 |
| 1980 | #6,217 | 6 |
| 1970 | #2,618 | 14 |
| 1960 | #1,855 | 20 |
| 1950 | #1,535 | 24 |
| 1940 | #1,064 | 38 |
| 1930 | #1,171 | 37 |
| 1920 | #922 | 57 |
| 1910 | #581 | 25 |
| 1900 | #734 | 13 |
| 1890 | #600 | 12 |
| 1880 | #566 | 12 |
How popular is Watson, counting every spelling?
Watson is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #950 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,011 for Watson on its own. Together these spellings went to 230 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watson | 224 | #1,011 | 1,631 |
| Wattson | 6 | #11,909 | 39 |
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 Watson?
224 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Watson (0.06 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Watson 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 37 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Watson.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Watson?
About 4,600 people born in the US named Watson are alive today, with a median age of 7; half are between 4 and 14. That makes Watson 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.
Watson by state
How common Watson was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Wisconsin (3.4×), Iowa (3.1×), Minnesota (2.9×), Missouri (2.3×), Alabama (2.1×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in New Jersey, Maryland, California.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Watson: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Watson, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Watson · Sibling names for Watson
Questions about the name Watson
What does Watson mean?
Watson means “son of Wat (Walter)” (English, Germanic origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Watson?
Watson was the 1011th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 224 babies. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked 397th; the most babies were born in 2021 (466). Over the last ten years it has moved up 403 places. More babies were named Watson in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Watson a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Watson in the US.
Where is Watson most popular?
In 2021–2025, Watson was most common in South Dakota (0.81 per 1,000 boys), followed by Wisconsin and Iowa.