Rising since 1985, #17 for boys today.
Popularity of Hudson since 1880
Babies named Hudson per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 34 |
| 1890s | 67 |
| 1900s | 75 |
| 1910s | 334 |
| 1920s | 384 |
| 1930s | 255 |
| 1940s | 235 |
| 1950s | 200 |
| 1960s | 146 |
| 1970s | 133 |
| 1980s | 294 |
| 1990s | 1,496 |
| 2000s | 12,220 |
| 2010s | 51,463 |
| 2020s | 46,951 |
Meaning & origin
Hudson spent a hundred years as a family-tree curiosity, it has been in the data since 1880, before the surname-name era found it. The climb that began in 1985 has outlasted the trend that started it: while Parker, Logan, and even Harper have crested and eased, Hudson set a new high in 2025, ranking 17th and reaching about one in every 199 newborn boys.
Its strongest states are Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming, an all-rural map that echoes the name's outdoorsy, river-and-valley imagery even though its literal meaning is simply 'son of Hudde.' The sound explains much of the success: two punchy syllables ending in -son, splitting the difference between classic Jackson and preppier Beckett, with Hud as a ready-made nickname.
Hudson is an English patronymic surname, 'son of Hudde', Hudde being a medieval pet name most often connected to Hugh, though some scholars also link it to Richard, so the trail is not entirely settled. The surname's most consequential bearer was the explorer Henry Hudson, who left his name on the river, the bay, and by extension the valley that shaped New York. As a given name it sits in American records from 1880, but it stayed rare for a full century; the surname-name wave lifted it beginning in 1985, and the ascent has never really paused, 2025 stands as its highest year on record.
Read more: Hudson on Wikipedia
Where Hudson is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Hudson” around the world
Where Hudson lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
25
babies in 2025
New Zealand
#12
in 2025
Quebec
38
babies in 2025
Australia (NSW)
#8
in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Hud, Huddy, Sonny
Famous people named Hudson
- Hudson Taylor · nineteenth-century British missionary who founded the China Inland Mission
Sibling names for Hudson
Names that share Hudson's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Harper, Everly, Sadie, Piper, Nora, Addison, Avery, Emery, Madison, Riley, Scarlett, Londyn, Raelynn, Addisyn, Berkley, Blakely, Brinley, Collins, Emberly, Hadlee, Hadley, Haisley, Halley, Harlee, Harlie, Henley, Kenley, Kensley, Laken, Monroe, Oakley, Tatum, Tenley, Tinley, Wrenley, Anniston, Annistyn, Ellington, Emmersyn, Hadleigh, Halston, Harlyn, Harlynn, Hartley, Hensley, Hudsyn, Kenlee, Kenslee, Kenzley, Kinlee, Kinzley, Preslee, Presleigh, Renley, Sicily, Taytum, Tylee, Adali, Aubrea, Brileigh, Brinnley, Brynnley, Ellyson, Emberleigh, Emersen, Emree, Haizley, Halsey, Harlei, Harlym, Hartlee, Hazley, Henlee, Henleigh, Huntlee, Huntleigh, Jensyn, Jerzee, Kaislee, Kinzleigh, Kolbi, Landri, Londen, Loxley, Lynleigh, Mailen, Maisley, Makynlee, Nashley, Sayler, Waylynn, Westlyn, Wrenly, Addalynn, Addilee, Adeleigh, Anastyn, Austynn, Averleigh, Bailynn, Blakeley, Brinleigh, Greenleigh, Harly, Hartlyn, Hasset, Hayde, Hayle, Hazlee, Kenslei, Kenzly, Kynslei, Kynzee, Kynzley, Laiklynn, Lynnleigh, Maevry, Paislynn, Raeley, Rawlings, Sonoma, Steely, Taisley, Tensley, Tinslee, Wesleigh, Witney, Hartleigh, Hollynn, Yazlynn, Addaleigh, Alizey, Ambert, Asly, Avarey, Baelynn, Baxley, Bexlie, Brindley, Brinklee, Brynlei, Burklee, Caisley, Ellason, Emerleigh, Ensleigh, Enzlee, Graylee, Hadlyn, Haisleigh, Halstyn, Harlea, Hartlynn, Haset, Hasley, Hatley, Hinley, Kennison, Kingsleigh, Kinnley, Kopelynn, Kynzleigh, Lynnley, Maislyn, Maizlee, Maizley, Paisely, Paisli, Payslie, Preslyn, Rinley, Tatym, Taygan
Brothers: Beckett, Asher, Sullivan, Oliver, Silas, Carter, Cooper, Grayson, Jackson, Landon, Lincoln, Nash, Anderson, Baylor, Beckham, Bronson, Colson, Edison, Garrison, Harlin, Jamison, Kamdyn, Kannon, Kashton, Kenyon, Lawson, Nixon, Rogers, Shepard, Tillman, Watson, Bently, Coltin, Dixon, Dutton, Gatlin, Halen, Heston, Huntley, Huston, Jettson, Kolson, Kylin, Larson, Maddux, Masen, Morrison, Patton, Pearson, Pierson, Stevens, Treyson, Truitt, Weslee, Wesson, Westyn, Arrington, Briston, Coulson, Dawsen, Drayson, Eastin, Eddison, Hanley, Harden, Hawkins, Herson, Holten, Hunner, Hutson, Huxlee, Janson, Maxson, Neyland, Peterson, Remmington, Wacey, Witten, Wrigley, Barkley, Caysen, Chaseton, Coleston, Colsyn, Dreyton, Everson, Haddon, Halden, Harvin, Hodges, Hollace, Holston, Jaggar, Kashten, Kolston, Krosby, Landynn, Luxton, Macklen, Rawlins, Rayder, Rayson, Redding, Riggins, Rucker, Saunders, Traxton, Tyland, Wrangler, Caeson, Bankston, Beckhem, Braxley, Brenner, Briceson, Broxton, Chamberlain, Elison, Grantland, Graysin, Graysyn, Grayton, Haysen, Hendricks, Herron, Hershey, Hever, Huckson, Huckston, Huxson, Kaysyn, Kinsler, Kinston, Kodiak, Kohlson, Mattson, Oxford, Prynceton, Robson, Sutter
Names like Hudson
Names whose popularity has moved with Hudson's over the last 50 years.
