Dawson Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Dawson is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Dawson?
Dawson is spelled D-A-W-S-O-N. The name has 6 letters.
Dawson at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Son of Daw or David.
- Origin
- The surname Dawson is of English origin and is derived from the given name Daw, a medieval nickname for David.
- Pronunciation
- DAW-suhn · 2 syllables
Dawson Popularity in 2025
Rank#2,256
Recorded Births81
Rank#143
Recorded Births2,487
- Girls usage fell 138 places to #2,256 and recorded 9 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 4 places to #143 and recorded 100 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Dawson Mean?
Son of Daw or David.
Origin: The surname Dawson is of English origin and is derived from the given name Daw, a medieval nickname for David.
How Do You Pronounce Dawson?
PronunciationDAW-suhn
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Dawson?
- History
- Dawson has historically been used as a surname and later adopted as a given name in English-speaking countries. It has appeared in various genealogical records over several centuries.
Dawson Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 81 | #2,256 |
| 2025 | Boys | 2,487 | #143 |
| 2024 | Girls | 90 | #2,118 |
| 2024 | Boys | 2,587 | #139 |
| 2023 | Girls | 100 | #1,965 |
| 2023 | Boys | 2,451 | #149 |
| 2022 | Girls | 94 | #2,048 |
| 2022 | Boys | 2,047 | #184 |
| 2021 | Girls | 99 | #1,971 |
| 2021 | Boys | 1,832 | #207 |
| 2020 | Girls | 73 | #2,394 |
| 2020 | Boys | 1,918 | #197 |
| 2019 | Girls | 82 | #2,231 |
| 2019 | Boys | 1,960 | #202 |
| 2018 | Girls | 98 | #1,997 |
| 2018 | Boys | 2,101 | #194 |
| 2017 | Girls | 64 | #2,689 |
| 2017 | Boys | 2,018 | #196 |
| 2016 | Girls | 82 | #2,308 |
| 2016 | Boys | 1,795 | #216 |
| 2015 | Girls | 66 | #2,685 |
| 2015 | Boys | 1,594 | #238 |
| 2014 | Girls | 44 | #3,549 |
| 2014 | Boys | 1,083 | #320 |
When Was Dawson Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1999 · Boys
2,802 recorded births
National rank #136
2024 · Boys
2,587 recorded births
National rank #139
2025 · Boys
2,487 recorded births
National rank #143
2023 · Boys
2,451 recorded births
National rank #149
Where Dawson Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| WV | #33 | 37 |
| AK | #46 | 14 |
| ID | #47 | 40 |
| KY | #62 | 71 |
| IA | #66 | 48 |
| SD | #69 | 16 |
| MS | #70 | 35 |
| MO | #74 | 82 |