Anson
Boy name · #1731 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Anson? In official American birth records, Anson has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Anson is currently the #1731 boy name in the United States — 94 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #804, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 19,149 boys born in 2025 was named Anson.
The 145-year story
Anson first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 10 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 302 boys were named Anson — good for #785 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Anson per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Anson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Anson in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Anson is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Anson will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Anson is most common
State-level data for Anson is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Anson
Statistically, parents drawn to Anson tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Gibson, Eason, Edson, Ellison, and Maison.
GibsonEasonEdsonEllisonMaisonAstonMaysonAyson
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Anson | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 94 | #1728 |
| 2024 | 135 | #1387 |
| 2023 | 148 | #1294 |
| 2022 | 158 | #1245 |
| 2021 | 152 | #1253 |
| 2020 | 189 | #1058 |
| 2019 | 218 | #978 |
| 2018 | 246 | #885 |
| 2017 | 295 | #789 |
| 2016 | 302 | #785 |
| 2015 | 287 | #804 |
| 2014 | 282 | #809 |
| 2013 | 205 | #974 |
| 2012 | 159 | #1151 |
| 2011 | 156 | #1152 |
| 2010 | 141 | #1245 |
| 2009 | 167 | #1103 |
| 2008 | 181 | #1046 |
| 2007 | 146 | #1206 |
| 2006 | 132 | #1265 |
| 2005 | 136 | #1170 |
| 2004 | 137 | #1144 |
| 2003 | 111 | #1277 |
| 2002 | 98 | #1346 |
| 2001 | 101 | #1298 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Anson?
In official American birth records, the name Anson first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 10 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Anson a popular boy name?
Anson ranked #1731 among boys in 2025 with 94 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #804.
When was the name Anson most popular?
Anson peaked in 2016, when 302 American boys received the name (ranked #785 that year). Since 2016 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Anson?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 19,149 newborn American boys was named Anson. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.