Unisex · #426 in 2026

Karson

Current Rank
#426
Peak Rank
#265 (2018)
Total Babies
22K
5-Yr Trend
-32%
👧 Girl peak #1,596 (2K total)
👦 Boy peak #265 (22K total)
👦As Boy Name
1966
First Year
2026
Last Year
2018
Peak Year
#265
Peak Rank
22K
Total Count
54
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
1980
First Year
2026
Last Year
1999
Peak Year
#1596
Peak Rank
2K
Total Count
38
Years Active

The Story of Karson

As a girl name

Karson first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1980, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1999, when 105 Karsons were born — ranking #1,596 that year. As of 2026, Karson ranks #3,151 for girls with 51 births, gradually falling (-10%). In total, more than 2K Karsons have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Karson first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1966, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2018, when 1,344 Karsons were born — ranking #265 that year. As of 2026, Karson ranks #426 for boys with 735 births, falling sharply (-32%). In total, more than 22K Karsons have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Karson

Phonetically similar names — useful when Karson 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 Karson

What does the name Karson mean?
Karson is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1966. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.
How popular is Karson in 2026?
In 2026, Karson ranks #426 among boys' names in the U.S., with 735 babies given the name that year.
When was Karson most popular?
Karson reached its peak popularity in 2018, ranking #265 that year with 1,344 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Karson most popular?
Karson has historically been most popular in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Karson.
Is Karson a unisex name?
Yes — Karson is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 9% of Karsons assigned female and 91% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Karson?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Karson include Finley, Desmond, Fletcher. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Karson

Karson is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1966 and has accumulated 22K births in the dataset. Karson's peak popularity came in 2018 when it ranked #265. Use the chart and map above to compare Karson's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.