Carson
Boy name · #124 in 2025 · Uniqueness 53/100
Carson is currently the #124 boy name in the United States — 2,883 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #89, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 624 boys born in 2025 was named Carson.
Babies named Carson per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Carson first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 9 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2018, when 5,259 boys were named Carson — good for #70 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Carson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Carson in class?
Carson scores 53 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 (200), PA (184), FL (172), CA (168), OH (153). 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 Bryson, Harrison, Colton, Jaxson, and Jameson.
BrysonHarrisonColtonJaxsonJamesonGreysonDawsonLandon
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Carson | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,883 | #124 |
| 2024 | 2,901 | #124 |
| 2023 | 3,210 | #112 |
| 2022 | 3,408 | #110 |
| 2021 | 3,777 | #97 |
| 2020 | 4,196 | #84 |
| 2019 | 4,522 | #82 |
| 2018 | 5,259 | #70 |
| 2017 | 4,766 | #83 |
| 2016 | 4,931 | #81 |
| 2015 | 4,761 | #89 |
| 2014 | 4,625 | #91 |
| 2013 | 4,540 | #90 |
| 2012 | 4,597 | #87 |
| 2011 | 4,927 | #85 |
| 2010 | 5,098 | #82 |
| 2009 | 4,997 | #88 |
| 2008 | 5,127 | #89 |
| 2007 | 5,120 | #91 |
| 2006 | 5,012 | #87 |
| 2005 | 4,354 | #101 |
| 2004 | 4,379 | #101 |
| 2003 | 4,861 | #89 |
| 2002 | 3,600 | #105 |
| 2001 | 3,943 | #95 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Carson a popular boy name?
Carson ranked #124 among boys in 2025 with 2,883 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #89.
When was the name Carson most popular?
Carson peaked in 2018, when 5,259 American boys received the name (ranked #70 that year). Since 2018 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Carson?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 624 newborn American boys was named Carson. It scores 53/100 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.