Carson
Carson is a unisex given name, originating from a Scottish and Irish surname of unknown meaning.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Carson
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Carson is a unisex given name, originating from a Scottish and Irish surname of unknown meaning.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Carson
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Carson as a girl name dates back to 1947, when 11 babies received it. 1999 was its biggest year on record, with 447 newborns named Carson — #560 in the national rankings. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 31% of all recorded Carsons. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,335 among girl names with 169 births, gradually falling (-7%). In total, more than 8K Carsons have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1940s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Carson first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1880, with 9 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2018: 5,259 births, good for #70 nationwide. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 36% of all recorded Carsons. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #136 among boy names with 2,614 births, falling sharply (-34%). In total, more than 135K Carsons have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Carson
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Carson. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Carson
Phonetically similar names — useful when Carson is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Carson
What does the name Carson mean?
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In which U.S. states is Carson most popular?
Is Carson a unisex name?
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About the name Carson
Carson is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 135K births in the dataset. Carson's peak popularity came in 2018 when it ranked #70. Use the chart and map above to compare Carson's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2018 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "C" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.