Dawson
#2,256 for girls in 2025, 81 births · #143 for boys in 2025, 2,487 births
Given to boys 97.4% of the time
- Peak · boys
- 1999 · 2,802 births
- Debut · boys
- 5 births
- In top 100 · boys
- neverof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 52,802since 1885
Dawson over time
Rank among boys' names. Dawson has never cracked the top 100 here.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #2,256 | 81 | #143 | 2,487 |
| 2024 | #2,118 | 90 | #139 | 2,587 |
| 2023 | #1,965 | 100 | #149 | 2,451 |
| 2022 | #2,048 | 94 | #184 | 2,047 |
| 2021 | #1,971 | 99 | #207 | 1,832 |
| 2020 | #2,394 | 73 | #197 | 1,918 |
| 2019 | #2,231 | 82 | #202 | 1,960 |
| 2018 | #1,997 | 98 | #194 | 2,101 |
| 2017 | #2,689 | 64 | #196 | 2,018 |
| 2016 | #2,308 | 82 | #216 | 1,795 |
| 2015 | #2,685 | 66 | #238 | 1,594 |
| 2014 | #3,549 | 44 | #320 | 1,083 |
| 2013 | #4,422 | 32 | #320 | 1,036 |
| 2012 | #4,486 | 32 | #316 | 1,036 |
| 2011 | #5,543 | 24 | #315 | 1,012 |
| 2010 | #5,771 | 23 | #289 | 1,168 |
| 2009 | #5,226 | 27 | #284 | 1,154 |
| 2008 | #5,750 | 24 | #269 | 1,292 |
| 2007 | #6,552 | 20 | #250 | 1,409 |
| 2006 | #5,233 | 26 | #233 | 1,550 |
| 2005 | #6,245 | 19 | #221 | 1,600 |
| 2004 | #5,062 | 25 | #206 | 1,763 |
| 2003 | #4,668 | 27 | #204 | 1,805 |
| 2002 | #3,978 | 32 | #193 | 1,953 |
| 2001 | #4,834 | 24 | #183 | 2,030 |
| 2000 | #3,527 | 37 | #168 | 2,312 |
| 1999 | #3,718 | 32 | #136 | 2,802 |
| 1998 | #5,123 | 20 | #175 | 1,895 |
| 1997 | — | #734 | 209 | |
| 1996 | — | #757 | 195 | |
| 1995 | — | #896 | 149 | |
| 1994 | — | #853 | 158 | |
| 1993 | — | #1,015 | 117 | |
| 1992 | — | #1,221 | 85 | |
| 1991 | — | #1,297 | 75 | |
| 1990 | — | #1,383 | 65 | |
| 1989 | — | #1,336 | 67 | |
| 1988 | — | #1,553 | 47 | |
| 1987 | — | #1,587 | 44 | |
| 1986 | — | #2,057 | 28 | |
| 1985 | — | #1,764 | 34 | |
| 1984 | — | #1,764 | 32 | |
| 1983 | — | #2,493 | 19 | |
| 1982 | — | #1,815 | 31 | |
| 1981 | — | #2,204 | 23 | |
| 1980 | — | #1,910 | 29 | |
| 1979 | — | #2,157 | 23 | |
| 1978 | — | #2,473 | 18 | |
| 1977 | — | #2,556 | 17 | |
| 1976 | — | #1,999 | 24 | |
| 1975 | — | #2,361 | 18 | |
| 1974 | — | #1,439 | 36 | |
| 1973 | — | #2,036 | 20 | |
| 1972 | — | #2,534 | 14 | |
| 1971 | — | #2,366 | 16 | |
| 1970 | — | #1,743 | 25 | |
| 1969 | — | #2,217 | 15 | |
| 1968 | — | #1,788 | 20 | |
| 1967 | — | #2,352 | 12 | |
| 1966 | — | #1,963 | 16 | |
| 1965 | — | #2,366 | 12 | |
| 1964 | — | #2,546 | 11 | |
| 1963 | — | #1,744 | 21 | |
| 1962 | — | #1,852 | 19 | |
| 1961 | — | #2,070 | 16 | |
| 1960 | — | #1,973 | 17 | |
| 1959 | — | #1,974 | 17 | |
| 1958 | — | #1,724 | 21 | |
| 1957 | — | #1,511 | 27 | |
| 1956 | — | #2,015 | 16 | |
| 1955 | — | #1,979 | 16 | |
| 1954 | — | #1,593 | 23 | |
| 1953 | — | #1,455 | 27 | |
| 1952 | — | #1,485 | 26 | |
| 1951 | — | #1,295 | 32 | |
| 1950 | — | #1,364 | 28 | |
| 1949 | — | #1,297 | 31 | |
| 1948 | — | #1,145 | 39 | |
| 1947 | — | #1,148 | 40 | |
| 1946 | — | #1,509 | 22 | |
| 1945 | — | #1,697 | 16 | |
| 1944 | — | #1,255 | 28 | |
| 1943 | — | #1,577 | 20 | |
| 1942 | — | #1,537 | 21 | |
| 1941 | — | #1,685 | 17 | |
| 1940 | — | #1,227 | 30 | |
| 1939 | — | #1,141 | 32 | |
| 1938 | — | #1,976 | 13 | |
| 1937 | — | #1,313 | 26 | |
| 1936 | — | #1,225 | 29 | |
| 1935 | — | #1,295 | 27 | |
| 1934 | — | #1,783 | 16 | |
| 1933 | — | #1,540 | 20 | |
| 1932 | — | #1,716 | 18 | |
| 1931 | — | #1,302 | 28 | |
| 1930 | — | #1,559 | 22 | |
| 1929 | — | #1,523 | 23 | |
| 1928 | — | #1,228 | 34 | |
| 1927 | — | #1,647 | 22 | |
| 1926 | — | #1,404 | 27 | |
| 1925 | — | #1,304 | 31 | |
| 1924 | — | #1,223 | 35 | |
| 1923 | — | #1,385 | 28 | |
| 1922 | — | #1,222 | 35 | |
| 1921 | — | #1,199 | 36 | |
| 1920 | — | #1,252 | 33 | |
| 1919 | — | #1,386 | 27 | |
| 1918 | — | #1,343 | 28 | |
| 1917 | — | #1,238 | 30 | |
| 1916 | — | #1,415 | 24 | |
| 1915 | — | #1,181 | 30 | |
| 1914 | — | #1,188 | 24 | |
| 1913 | — | #1,173 | 19 | |
| 1912 | — | #1,268 | 14 | |
| 1911 | — | #925 | 13 | |
| 1910 | — | #981 | 11 | |
| 1909 | — | #1,277 | 6 | |
| 1908 | — | — | ||
| 1907 | — | #1,200 | 6 | |
| 1906 | — | — | ||
| 1905 | — | #1,233 | 5 | |
| 1904 | — | #760 | 10 | |
| 1903 | — | — | ||
| 1902 | — | — | ||
| 1901 | — | #943 | 6 | |
| 1900 | — | #1,310 | 5 | |
| 1899 | — | — | ||
| 1898 | — | #1,121 | 5 | |
| 1897 | — | — | ||
| 1896 | — | — | ||
| 1895 | — | — | ||
| 1894 | — | — | ||
| 1893 | — | — | ||
| 1892 | — | — | ||
| 1891 | — | #766 | 7 | |
| 1890 | — | #814 | 7 | |
| 1889 | — | #974 | 5 | |
| 1888 | — | #755 | 8 | |
| 1887 | — | #679 | 8 | |
| 1886 | — | — | ||
| 1885 | — | #936 | 5 | |
| 1884 | — | — | ||
| 1883 | — | — | ||
| 1882 | — | — | ||
| 1881 | — | — | ||
| 1880 | — | — | ||
The first year at least five boys were named Dawson! It came in at #936, and was given to 5 baby boys.
Quietest stretch: 1885–1886, when fewer than 6 boys a year got the name.
Where Dawson is popular in 2021
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- West Virginia#58 · 1 in 219
- Mississippi#68 · 1 in 279
- North Dakota#80 · 1 in 252
- South Dakota#83 · 1 in 270
- Kentucky#84 · 1 in 325
Best ever in a state: #28 in West Virginia, 2024.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | #58 | 32 | 1 in 219 |
| Mississippi | #68 | 43 | 1 in 279 |
| North Dakota | #80 | 14 | 1 in 252 |
| South Dakota | #83 | 14 | 1 in 270 |
| Kentucky | #84 | 61 | 1 in 325 |
| Montana | #97 | 11 | 1 in 316 |
| Utah | #97 | 49 | 1 in 392 |
| Tennessee | #102 | 88 | 1 in 407 |
| Alabama | #105 | 54 | 1 in 408 |
| Vermont | #108 | 5 | 1 in 278 |
| Alaska | #109 | 8 | 1 in 320 |
| Arkansas | #124 | 30 | 1 in 433 |
| Wisconsin | #129 | 51 | 1 in 477 |
| Oklahoma | #131 | 37 | 1 in 485 |
| South Carolina | #132 | 41 | 1 in 494 |
| Indiana | #136 | 63 | 1 in 520 |
| Maine | #137 | 10 | 1 in 406 |
| Georgia | #139 | 89 | 1 in 566 |
| Louisiana | #143 | 43 | 1 in 506 |
| Kansas | #144 | 27 | 1 in 511 |
| Missouri | #145 | 52 | 1 in 549 |
| Minnesota | #148 | 43 | 1 in 585 |
| North Carolina | #156 | 79 | 1 in 646 |
| Idaho | #158 | 15 | 1 in 534 |
| Michigan | #164 | 68 | 1 in 632 |
| Iowa | #168 | 24 | 1 in 586 |
| New Hampshire | #174 | 8 | 1 in 583 |
| Ohio | #187 | 74 | 1 in 733 |
| Nebraska | #192 | 14 | 1 in 635 |
| Virginia | #194 | 49 | 1 in 798 |
| Oregon | #197 | 22 | 1 in 723 |
| Pennsylvania | #203 | 63 | 1 in 880 |
| Florida | #217 | 95 | 1 in 976 |
| Nevada | #224 | 15 | 1 in 790 |
| Illinois | #243 | 51 | 1 in 1,057 |
| Washington | #257 | 32 | 1 in 1,044 |
| Texas | #281 | 135 | 1 in 1,268 |
| Colorado | #298 | 22 | 1 in 1,174 |
| Maryland | #306 | 18 | 1 in 1,386 |
| New York | #370 | 46 | 1 in 1,938 |
| Massachusetts | #381 | 13 | 1 in 2,194 |
| California | #436 | 77 | 1 in 2,459 |
| Arizona | #458 | 15 | 1 in 2,175 |
| Connecticut | #495 | 5 | 1 in 2,795 |
| New Jersey | #747 | 8 | 1 in 5,069 |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — | — |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Dawson
- 4 spots since 2024 (#139 → #143)
- 54 spots since 2020 (#197 → #143)
- 95 spots since 2015 (#238 → #143)
- Biggest jump: 559 spots in 1998 (#734 → #175)
- Biggest drop: 473 spots in 1905 (#760 → #1,233)
- Debuted 1885
- Peaked 1999 at #136 (2,802 births)
- Births halved by 2008, 9 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: never
- Top 1,000: 42 yrs · run 1994–2025
- Highest: 1 in 666 boys born in 2024 were named Dawson (0.15%)
- Latest: 1 in 687 boys born in 2025 (0.15%)
- Its best rank, #136 in 1999, was only 1 in 685 (0.15%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
- 31.9% of all boys named Dawson (16,868) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 26 | #679 (1887) | #836 |
| 1890s | 19 | #766 (1891) | #900 |
| 1900s | 38 | #760 (1904) | #1,121 |
| 1910s | 220 | #925 (1911) | #1,210 |
| 1920s | 304 | #1,199 (1921) | #1,339 |
| 1930s | 231 | #1,141 (1939) | #1,485 |
| 1940s | 264 | #1,145 (1948) | #1,408 |
| 1950s | 233 | #1,295 (1951) | #1,640 |
| 1960s | 159 | #1,744 (1963) | #2,087 |
| 1970s | 211 | #1,439 (1974) | #2,166 |
| 1980s | 354 | #1,336 (1989) | #1,848 |
| 1990s | 5,750 | #136 (1999) | #847 |
| 2000s | 16,868 | #168 (2000) | #221 |
| 2010s | 14,803 | #194 (2018) | #261 |
| 2020s | 13,322 | #139 (2024) | #170 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Dawson in 2021
Top girls' names in 2021
Top boys' names in 2021
More about 2021
girls
1,640,861 girls got a published name in 2021; 1 in 16,574 of them was named Dawson, which outranked 88.8% of the 17,676 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 7.7% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
- #1,955Stormy100
- #1,955Yasmeen100
- #1,955Zayda100
- #1,971Dawson99
- #1,971Alyna99
- #1,971Ayda99
- #1,971Eternity99
- #1,980Amila98
- #1,980Avaleigh98
- #1,980Eleanore98
Tied with 8 names at #1,971; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,749,482 boys got a published name in 2021; 1 in 955 of them was named Dawson, which outranked 98.5% of the 14,096 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 7.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.