Holding steady.
Popularity of Dickson since 1914
Babies named Dickson per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1961, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Dickson's real moment was 1918.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 26 |
| 1920s | 41 |
| 1930s | 42 |
| 1940s | 72 |
| 1950s | 105 |
| 1960s | 66 |
| 1970s | 71 |
| 1980s | 30 |
| 1990s | 67 |
| 2000s | 45 |
| 2010s | 40 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Meaning & origin
Dickson is a rare given name with a clear meaning: 'son of Dick', where Dick is a classic nickname for Richard. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1914, reaching its highest usage in 1918, when it was given to only a handful of boys each year. Since then, its trajectory has been stable and low, never entering the top ranks. The name is essentially a surname used as a first name, similar to other patronymics like Dixon or Jackson. Because Dickson has no strong associational weight, it offers a straightforward, surname-as-first-name option for parents seeking something uncommon yet historically grounded.
Dickson is a patronymic surname meaning 'son of Dick', where Dick is a medieval diminutive of Richard. Richard itself comes from the Old German elements 'ric' (power, ruler) and 'hard' (brave, hardy), so the name ultimately conveys 'son of a powerful ruler.' As a given name, Dickson emerged in the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in English-speaking countries, though it has never been common. Its use peaked in the United States around 1918.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Dick, Dix, Sonny
Variants: Dixon, Dickinson, Dixson
Sibling names for Dickson
Names that share Dickson's style, for a brother or sister.
