Orson
A male given name transferred from the surname.
Every Orson since 1880 — 2,714 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Orson
Orson is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #1,433 in 2025 with 126 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 2,714 American babies have been named Orson. Its peak came in 2023, when 132 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Orson stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Orson year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 126 | #1,433 |
| 2024 | 121 | #1,492 |
| 2023 | 132 | #1,400 |
| 2022 | 127 | #1,437 |
| 2021 | 98 | #1,684 |
| 2020 | 104 | #1,573 |
| 2019 | 105 | #1,589 |
| 2018 | 63 | #2,202 |
| 2017 | 73 | #1,968 |
| 2016 | 90 | #1,735 |
| 2015 | 66 | #2,126 |
| 2014 | 53 | #2,420 |
| 2013 | 42 | #2,796 |
| 2012 | 31 | #3,506 |
| 2011 | 34 | #3,287 |
| 2010 | 28 | #3,780 |
| 2009 | 23 | #4,394 |
| 2008 | 18 | #5,202 |
| 2007 | 23 | #4,330 |
| 2006 | 14 | #6,011 |
| 2005 | 13 | #6,127 |
| 2004 | 7 | #9,674 |
| 2003 | 11 | #6,605 |
| 2002 | 12 | #5,976 |
| 2001 | 9 | #7,356 |
| 2000 | 8 | #7,989 |
| 1995 | 7 | #7,577 |
| 1990 | 7 | #6,961 |
| 1985 | 7 | #5,585 |
| 1980 | 13 | #3,381 |
| 1975 | 14 | #2,865 |
| 1970 | 24 | #1,835 |
| 1965 | 14 | #2,239 |
| 1960 | 8 | #3,262 |
| 1955 | 8 | #3,138 |
| 1950 | 15 | #2,003 |
| 1945 | 16 | #1,746 |
| 1940 | 22 | #1,460 |
| 1935 | 8 | #2,883 |
| 1930 | 13 | #2,267 |
| 1925 | 19 | #1,854 |
| 1920 | 18 | #1,943 |
| 1915 | 24 | #1,398 |
| 1910 | 7 | #1,391 |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | 7 | #956 |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | 6 | #910 |
| 1880 | 7 | #788 |
Famous people named Orson
- Orson Welles Actor · 1915–1985
- Orson Scott Card Writer · b. 1951
- Orson Bean Actor · 1928–2020
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Orson mean?
A male given name transferred from the surname.
How popular is the name Orson in 2025?
Orson ranked #1,433 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 126 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Orson?
2,714 babies have been named Orson in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Orson most popular?
Orson peaked in 2023, when 132 newborns received the name.
Is Orson a boy or girl name?
Orson is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Orson rising or falling?
Orson is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Orson?
Well-known people named Orson include Orson Welles (actor), Orson Scott Card (writer), Orson Bean (actor).