Dawson
2025 SSA
2025 SSA
About Dawson
Dawson was scarcely heard as a first name before the debut of Dawson's Creek in 1998, at which point it leaped up more than 550 places in one year. The character Dawson Leery, played by James Van Der Beek, was a teen favorite until the show's demise in 2003.
Dawson for boys#143 US
An offshoot of the David nickname Daw, Dawson could make a nice tribute to a namesake David. Also a common surname, there have been noted Dawsons from footballer Len to actress Rosario to the Leonardo Di Caprio character in Titanic, Jack Dawson.
In literature, Dawson Fairchild is a novelist character in William Faulkner's second novel, Mosquitoes.
A recent study of names by political party affiliation found that nearly 80 percent of the voters named Dawson are Republicans.
Dawson for girls#2260 US
A surname style name used more popularly on boys but also given to about 100 baby girls in the US in a recent year. Associated with the American teen drama, Dawson's Creek, this last-name off shoot of David may appeal to those who enjoy Madison, Emerson, and Drew.
Pronounced DAW-sen.
As of October 2026, Dawson ranked #143 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #136 in 1999, Nameberry popularity #332.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #320 | 1,083 | #3,554 | 44 |
| 2015 | #238 | 1,594 | #2,686 | 66 |
| 2016 | #216 | 1,794 | #2,312 | 82 |
| 2017 | #196 | 2,017 | #2,697 | 64 |
| 2018 | #194 | 2,099 | #1,999 | 98 |
| 2019 | #202 | 1,960 | #2,237 | 82 |
| 2020 | #197 | 1,918 | #2,398 | 73 |
| 2021 | #207 | 1,829 | #1,970 | 99 |
| 2022 | #184 | 2,045 | #2,052 | 94 |
| 2023 | #149 | 2,449 | #1,965 | 100 |
| 2024 | #139 | 2,576 | #2,109 | 90 |
| 2025 | #143 | 2,487 | #2,260 | 81 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 40 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Dawson.
Similar boy names
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Dawson on lists
Famous Dawsons
- (Marvin) Dawson MathisBoy
U.S. Congressman from Georgia
- Dawson SimpsonBoy
Australian rules footballer
- Dawson Dakota DunbarBoy
Canadian actor
- Dawson DawsonBoy
Watson, British,born painter
- Dawson FernandesBoy
Indian footballer
- Dawson MillwardBoy
British actor
- Charles Dawson "Daws" ButlerBoy
American voice actor
- Dawson SwindellBoy
son of baseball player Greg Swindell
- Dawson Paul AucoinBoy
son of baseball player Derek Aucoin
- Richard DawsonBoy
English,American actor, comedian, and TV game show host
- Shane DawsonBoy
American Youtube Personality
- Dawson MercerBoy
Canadian ice hockey player
Dawson in pop culture
- Dawson LeeryBoy
main character on TV's "Dawson's Creek"
- Dawson T. HunzigerBoy
character in "Arrowsmith" (1925) by Sinclair Lewis
- Dawson BlackBoy
character in "Obsidian" by Jennifer L Armentrout
- Dawson ColeBoy
main character in Nicholas Sparks's "The Best of Me"
- Dawson FairchildBoy
character in William Faulkner's "Mosquitoes"
- Frank DawsonBoy
main character on TV's "This Man Dawson"
- Edward "Eddie" DawsonBoy
main character in Piers Paul Read's "Monk Dawson''
- Jack DawsonBoy
character in film "Titanic"
- Damon DawsonBoy
character on TV's "Heroes"
- Ally DawsonBoy
character on TV's "Austin & Ally"
- Isabella "Bella" DawsonBoy
character in Disney's 'Bella and the Bulldogs'
- Antonio DawsonBoy
character on TV's "Chicago P.D." and "Chicago Justice"
- Gabriela "Gabby" DawsonBoy
character on TV's "Chicago Fire"
Variations & nicknames
- DawsenBoy