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The short answer
Dawson is a masculine English name taken from a surname meaning "son of David". It is pronounced DAW-sən. Behind the Name says that as a given name it was popularized in the late 1990s by the central character on the television drama Dawson's Creek (1998-2003): in the United States the number of boys receiving the name increased tenfold between 1997 and 1999. It got another boost in 2014 after it was used for a main character in the film The Best of Me. In the United States it ranked #143 for boys in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Dawson as "from an English surname meaning 'son of David'". The given-name use is recent and media-driven: the entry states that it "was popularized in the late 1990s by the central character on the television drama Dawson's Creek (1998-2003)", that the number of American boys given the name rose tenfold between 1997 and 1999, and that it received a further boost in 2014 from a main character in the film The Best of Me. No variants or diminutives are listed.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Dawson (surname) | son of David |
Popularity
Dawson ranked #143 for boys in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration); Behind the Name reports the same 2025 US rank. Behind the Name records a tenfold increase in American boys given the name between 1997 and 1999, tied to Dawson's Creek, and a further boost in 2014 from the film The Best of Me.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #143 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Daw
Variants: None documented.
Related names: David, Davis, Dawes
What the name feels like
Dawson has the same two-syllable, -son-ending shape as Mason and Grayson, with a broad first vowel that gives it a slightly rugged sound. For many parents it will still carry a late-1990s television association, which can read as either nostalgic or dated depending on taste.
Style tags: surname name, -son ending, two syllables, pop-culture name, modern
Editorial interpretation: The style impressions above are editorial opinion, not fact. The nickname Daw is a natural short form, not one documented by Behind the Name. David is listed as related because the surname means 'son of David'; Davis and Dawes are editorial picks for shared origin-shape, not Behind the Name listings.
If you like this name
Names that share Dawson's -son shape, its David root or its surname-name style. These groupings are editorial suggestions.
Similar by meaning
- David
- Davis
- Davison
Similar by sound
Similar by style
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dawson mean?
Dawson means "son of David". It comes from an English surname with that meaning.
Why did Dawson become a popular first name?
Behind the Name credits the television drama Dawson's Creek (1998-2003): the number of American boys given the name increased tenfold between 1997 and 1999. The 2014 film The Best of Me gave it another boost.
How popular is Dawson today?
Dawson ranked #143 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Dawson — supports etymology, media-driven popularity, pronunciation.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
