Dawson
Boy name · #143 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Dawson? In official American birth records, Dawson has been tracked continuously since 1885, giving it 140 years of documented American history.
Dawson is currently the #143 boy name in the United States — 2,487 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #238, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 724 boys born in 2025 was named Dawson.
Babies named Dawson per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 140-year story
Dawson first appears in the Social Security records in 1885, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1999, when 2,802 boys were named Dawson — good for #136 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 Dawson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Dawson in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Dawson is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Dawson is most common
Geography matters for names, and Dawson is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Dawson is most common in AK (6.2 per 1,000), WV (6 per 1,000), ID (4.6 per 1,000), NH (4.4 per 1,000), SD (4.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.7 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Dawson is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Dawson
Statistically, parents drawn to Dawson tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Carson, Bryson, Harrison, Ashton, and Jaxson.
CarsonBrysonHarrisonAshtonJaxsonJamesonGreysonDamian
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Dawson | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,487 | #143 |
| 2024 | 2,587 | #139 |
| 2023 | 2,451 | #149 |
| 2022 | 2,047 | #184 |
| 2021 | 1,832 | #207 |
| 2020 | 1,918 | #197 |
| 2019 | 1,960 | #202 |
| 2018 | 2,101 | #194 |
| 2017 | 2,018 | #196 |
| 2016 | 1,795 | #216 |
| 2015 | 1,594 | #238 |
| 2014 | 1,083 | #320 |
| 2013 | 1,036 | #320 |
| 2012 | 1,036 | #316 |
| 2011 | 1,012 | #315 |
| 2010 | 1,168 | #289 |
| 2009 | 1,154 | #284 |
| 2008 | 1,292 | #269 |
| 2007 | 1,409 | #250 |
| 2006 | 1,550 | #233 |
| 2005 | 1,600 | #221 |
| 2004 | 1,763 | #206 |
| 2003 | 1,805 | #204 |
| 2002 | 1,953 | #193 |
| 2001 | 2,030 | #183 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Dawson?
In official American birth records, the name Dawson first appeared in 1885 (over 140 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Dawson a popular boy name?
Dawson ranked #143 among boys in 2025 with 2,487 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #238.
When was the name Dawson most popular?
Dawson peaked in 1999, when 2,802 American boys received the name (ranked #136 that year). Since 1999 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Dawson?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 724 newborn American boys was named Dawson. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.