Carlson
Boy name · English · German · Scandinavian
Meaningson of Carl · Swedish
- US rank
- #12,008
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #2,277 in 1943
5 babies were named Carlson in the US in 2025. It has dropped 3,269 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1920–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Carlson you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 344,828 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Carlson, 5 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Carlson would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryCarlson first shows up in US birth records in 1920, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 105 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1943, when it ranked #2,277. Today it's #12,008, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowCarlson was 2.6× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 131,579 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 344,828.
- TrendCarlson has slipped 3,269 places over the last five years and now sits at #12,008. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningIn Swedish, Carlson means “son of Carl”. Our records link it to English, German and Scandinavian roots.
About the name Carlson
Carlson is a boy name of English, German and Scandinavian origin meaning “son of Carl”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with C and ending in “-son”. US birth records list Carlson for boys from 1920 to 2025, in 82 of those 106 years. Its best year was 1943, when it ranked #2,277 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #12,008, with 5 babies.
Origin:English namesGerman namesScandinavian names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 3.7 | 267,380 boys |
| 1930s | 2.1 | 471,698 boys |
| 1940s | 4.2 | 237,530 boys |
| 1950s | 3.5 | 284,091 boys |
| 1960s | 2.7 | 366,300 boys |
| 1970s | 2.9 | 348,432 boys |
| 1980s | 2.9 | 347,222 boys |
| 1990s | 4.7 | 212,314 boys |
| 2000s | 5.9 | 170,648 boys |
| 2010s | 7.1 | 141,443 boys |
| 2020s | 4.9 | 203,390 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Carlson
What does the name Carlson mean?
Carlson means “son of Carl” in Swedish.
What is the origin of the name Carlson?
Carlson has English, German, Scandinavian roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Carlson a boy or girl name?
Carlson is a boy name.
How popular is the name Carlson?
Carlson ranked #12,008 for US boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1943 (#2,277).