Orson
Boy name · #1428 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Orson? In official American birth records, Orson has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 126 baby boys were named Orson, placing it at #1428 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2112, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 14,286 boys born in 2025 was named Orson.
The 145-year story
Orson first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 7 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2023, with 132 babies and a rank of #1397. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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 Orson per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Orson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Orson in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Orson is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Orson will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Orson is most common
State-level data for Orson 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 Orson
Statistically, parents drawn to Orson tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jetson, Jenson, Olson, Yeison, and Wesson.
JetsonJensonOlsonYeisonWessonIversonEversonCaison
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Orson | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 126 | #1425 |
| 2024 | 121 | #1487 |
| 2023 | 132 | #1397 |
| 2022 | 127 | #1433 |
| 2021 | 98 | #1678 |
| 2020 | 104 | #1568 |
| 2019 | 105 | #1582 |
| 2018 | 63 | #2189 |
| 2017 | 73 | #1958 |
| 2016 | 90 | #1724 |
| 2015 | 66 | #2112 |
| 2014 | 53 | #2402 |
| 2013 | 42 | #2763 |
| 2012 | 31 | #3450 |
| 2011 | 34 | #3235 |
| 2010 | 28 | #3708 |
| 2009 | 23 | #4278 |
| 2008 | 18 | #5067 |
| 2007 | 23 | #4243 |
| 2006 | 14 | #5781 |
| 2005 | 13 | #5875 |
| 2004 | 7 | #8927 |
| 2003 | 11 | #6258 |
| 2002 | 12 | #5725 |
| 2001 | 9 | #6935 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Orson?
In official American birth records, the name Orson first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Orson a popular boy name?
Orson ranked #1428 among boys in 2025 with 126 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2112.
When was the name Orson most popular?
Orson peaked in 2023, when 132 American boys received the name (ranked #1397 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Orson?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 14,286 newborn American boys was named Orson. 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.