Boy name · English
Dawson
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: son of DavidDawson is a boy's name that comes from English and means "son of David". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Son of David
- Origin
- English
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #143 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Dawson
As a boy's name, Dawson comes from English and means "son of David". It is used in English.
Dawson is also a surname: the 386th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 80,960 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Dawson on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Dawson on 2 lists.
“English for son of David; solid and friendly”
From Cowboy names, western boy names
“Son of Daw, a pet form of David”
From Scottish last names, scottish -son surnames
How popular is Dawson?
- US rank in 2025
- #143
- 2,487 babies, 1,456 per million boys
- Best rank
- #136 in 1999
- 2,802 babies that year
- Babies since 1885
- At least 52,802
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 24 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 17 per million |
| 1900s | 28 per million |
| 1910s | 33 per million |
| 1920s | 28 per million |
| 1930s | 22 per million |
| 1940s | 18 per million |
| 1950s | 12 per million |
| 1960s | 8 per million |
| 1970s | 13 per million |
| 1980s | 19 per million |
| 1990s | 295 per million |
| 2000s | 845 per million |
| 2010s | 787 per million |
| 2020s | 1,286 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #216 | #196 | #194 | #202 | #197 | #207 | #184 | #149 | #139 | #143 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Dawson
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- DamonTo tame (Greek, boy)
Middle names for Dawson
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from English
- AinsleyFrom a place named for a solitary or hermitage clearing (English, unisex)
- ArmstrongStrong in the arm (English, boy)
- JacksonFrom a surname meaning son of Jack (English, boy)
- ScottFrom Scotland (English, boy)
- AceFrom the English word ace, highest rank (English, boy)
- AdairFrom a surname derived from Edgar (English, unisex)
- AndersonSon of Andrew (English, boy)
- ArloMeaning uncertain; perhaps from Spenser's Arlo Hill (English, boy)
- AyrtonSettlement on the River Aire (English, boy)
- BayA sheltered curve of coast (English, unisex)
- BensonFrom a surname meaning son of Benedict (English, boy)
- BrysonFrom a surname meaning son of Brice (English, boy)
- CarterCart driver (English, boy)
- ChaseHunter (English, boy)
- ColterFrom a surname for a keeper of horses (English, boy)
- CooperBarrel maker (English, boy)
- CrewFrom the English word crew, a group of people (English, boy)
- EllisonSon of Ellis (English, unisex)
Dawson: common questions
What does the name Dawson mean?
Dawson comes from English and means "son of David".
Is Dawson a boy or girl name?
Dawson is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 81 girls and 2,487 boys in the US were named Dawson, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Dawson come from?
Dawson comes from English and means "son of David". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Dawson?
Dawson ranked #143 in the US in 2025, with 2,487 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Dawson?
Names spelled like Dawson include Damon.
What middle names go with Dawson?
Middle names that flow well with Dawson include Cedar, Clark, Ford, Glenn and Lamar. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.