Johnson
Boy name · #3382 in 2025 · Uniqueness 91/100
In 2025, 34 baby boys were named Johnson, placing it at #3382 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1931, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 52,941 boys born in 2025 was named Johnson.
The 145-year story
Johnson first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 13 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2000, when 111 boys were named Johnson — good for #1214 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 Johnson per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Johnson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Johnson in class?
Johnson scores 91 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Johnson will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Johnson is most common
State-level data for Johnson is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Johnson
Statistically, parents drawn to Johnson tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Robinson, Sampson, Addison, Kelson, and Davidson.
RobinsonSampsonAddisonKelsonDavidsonGarrisonJaronBritton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Johnson | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | #3379 |
| 2024 | 32 | #3524 |
| 2023 | 48 | #2693 |
| 2022 | 49 | #2675 |
| 2021 | 46 | #2732 |
| 2020 | 62 | #2212 |
| 2019 | 59 | #2310 |
| 2018 | 55 | #2385 |
| 2017 | 61 | #2186 |
| 2016 | 72 | #1991 |
| 2015 | 75 | #1931 |
| 2014 | 61 | #2205 |
| 2013 | 62 | #2139 |
| 2012 | 64 | #2104 |
| 2011 | 72 | #1927 |
| 2010 | 60 | #2187 |
| 2009 | 85 | #1774 |
| 2008 | 71 | #1981 |
| 2007 | 95 | #1621 |
| 2006 | 94 | #1562 |
| 2005 | 78 | #1711 |
| 2004 | 87 | #1530 |
| 2003 | 97 | #1381 |
| 2002 | 79 | #1557 |
| 2001 | 82 | #1481 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Johnson a popular boy name?
Johnson ranked #3382 among boys in 2025 with 34 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1931.
When was the name Johnson most popular?
Johnson peaked in 2000, when 111 American boys received the name (ranked #1214 that year). Since 2000 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Johnson?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 52,941 newborn American boys was named Johnson. It scores 91/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.