Watson
Meaningson of Walter · English
- US rank
- #1,008
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #389 in 1882
224 babies were named Watson in the US in 2025. It has dropped 405 places in five years.
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US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Watson you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 7,628 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Watson, 224 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Watson would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryWatson has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Watsons, and counting.
- Best yearIts best year was 1882, when it reached #389.
- Then vs nowWatson is 20× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 151,515 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 7,628.
- TrendWatson has slipped 405 places over the last five years and now sits at #1,008. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedWatson is most popular in Wisconsin, where it ranks #437, followed by Iowa (#448) and Alabama (#622). It's in the top 1,000 in 18 states.
- MeaningIn English, Watson means “son of Walter”. Our records link it to English and German roots.
About the name Watson
Watson is a boy name of English and German origin meaning “son of Walter”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with W and ending in “-son”. US birth records list Watson for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 145 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1882, when it ranked #389 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #1,008, with 224 babies.
Origin:English namesGerman names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 96 | 10,447 boys |
| 1890s | 110 | 9,098 boys |
| 1900s | 92 | 10,885 boys |
| 1910s | 87 | 11,553 boys |
| 1920s | 49 | 20,521 boys |
| 1930s | 36 | 28,129 boys |
| 1940s | 23 | 43,290 boys |
| 1950s | 12 | 80,451 boys |
| 1960s | 7.9 | 127,389 boys |
| 1970s | 6.4 | 156,740 boys |
| 1980s | 7.0 | 143,062 boys |
| 1990s | 8.0 | 125,313 boys |
| 2000s | 11 | 91,241 boys |
| 2010s | 79 | 12,671 boys |
| 2020s | 201 | 4,978 boys |
Other spellings of Watson
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 Watson
What does the name Watson mean?
Watson means “son of Walter” in English.
What is the origin of the name Watson?
Watson has English, German roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Watson a boy or girl name?
Watson is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Watson?
Watson ranked #1,008 for US boys in 2025, given to 224 babies. Its best year was 1882 (#389).