Carson
Girl name · #1177 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Carson? In official American birth records, Carson has been tracked continuously since 1947, giving it 78 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 197 baby girls were named Carson, placing it at #1177 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1329, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 9,137 girls born in 2025 was named Carson.
The 78-year story
Carson first appears in the Social Security records in 1947, when 11 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1999, when 447 girls were named Carson — good for #560 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 Carson per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Carson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Carson in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Carson is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Carson will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Carson is most common
Geography matters for names, and Carson is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Carson is most common in NC (0.3 per 1,000), GA (0.2 per 1,000), OH (0.2 per 1,000), FL (0.2 per 1,000), TX (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Carson is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Carson
Statistically, parents drawn to Carson tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Allyson, Karson, Mason, Alyson, and Cameron.
AllysonKarsonMasonAlysonCameronLaurynMaysonGrayson
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Carson | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 197 | #1173 |
| 2024 | 173 | #1326 |
| 2023 | 188 | #1238 |
| 2022 | 170 | #1367 |
| 2021 | 172 | #1312 |
| 2020 | 202 | #1159 |
| 2019 | 166 | #1357 |
| 2018 | 207 | #1162 |
| 2017 | 193 | #1236 |
| 2016 | 186 | #1291 |
| 2015 | 178 | #1329 |
| 2014 | 173 | #1352 |
| 2013 | 152 | #1466 |
| 2012 | 153 | #1477 |
| 2011 | 179 | #1311 |
| 2010 | 189 | #1263 |
| 2009 | 188 | #1288 |
| 2008 | 202 | #1242 |
| 2007 | 200 | #1239 |
| 2006 | 212 | #1151 |
| 2005 | 214 | #1105 |
| 2004 | 236 | #997 |
| 2003 | 280 | #862 |
| 2002 | 293 | #800 |
| 2001 | 352 | #703 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Carson?
In official American birth records, the name Carson first appeared in 1947 (over 78 years ago), when 11 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 78 years.
Is Carson a popular girl name?
Carson ranked #1177 among girls in 2025 with 197 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1329.
When was the name Carson most popular?
Carson peaked in 1999, when 447 American girls received the name (ranked #560 that year). Since 1999 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Carson?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 9,137 newborn American girls was named Carson. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.