Carson
Girl name · #1177 in 2025 · Uniqueness 64/100
In 2025, 197 baby girls were named Carson, placing it at #1177 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1329, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 9,137 girls born in 2025 was named Carson.
The 78-year story
Carson first appears in the Social Security records in 1947, when 11 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1999, when 447 girls were named Carson — good for #560 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Carson per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Carson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Carson in class?
Carson scores 64 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Carson is most common
Geography matters for names, and Carson is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Carsons were TX (17), FL (16), NC (15), GA (11), OH (11). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Carson
Statistically, parents drawn to Carson tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Allyson, Karson, Mason, Alyson, and Cameron.
AllysonKarsonMasonAlysonCameronLaurynMaysonGrayson
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Carson | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 197 | #1173 |
| 2024 | 173 | #1326 |
| 2023 | 188 | #1238 |
| 2022 | 170 | #1367 |
| 2021 | 172 | #1312 |
| 2020 | 202 | #1159 |
| 2019 | 166 | #1357 |
| 2018 | 207 | #1162 |
| 2017 | 193 | #1236 |
| 2016 | 186 | #1291 |
| 2015 | 178 | #1329 |
| 2014 | 173 | #1352 |
| 2013 | 152 | #1466 |
| 2012 | 153 | #1477 |
| 2011 | 179 | #1311 |
| 2010 | 189 | #1263 |
| 2009 | 188 | #1288 |
| 2008 | 202 | #1242 |
| 2007 | 200 | #1239 |
| 2006 | 212 | #1151 |
| 2005 | 214 | #1105 |
| 2004 | 236 | #997 |
| 2003 | 280 | #862 |
| 2002 | 293 | #800 |
| 2001 | 352 | #703 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Carson a popular girl name?
Carson ranked #1177 among girls in 2025 with 197 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1329.
When was the name Carson most popular?
Carson peaked in 1999, when 447 American girls received the name (ranked #560 that year). Since 1999 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Carson?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 9,137 newborn American girls was named Carson. It scores 64/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.