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Watson

Meaning: Son of Walter
Origin: English surname — From Wat, a medieval short form of Walter

Boy's name · #1011 in the US (2025) · 2020s wave

Popularity over time

Watson reached its best rank, #397, in 1882 and ranked #1011 in 2025. About 6,700 boys have carried it since 1880.

Across the states

See where Watson is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 36 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Watson ranks in other countries and regions.

#1,015 in Canada (2025) · #2,144 in Sweden (2025) · #5,120 in England & Wales (2024) · #6,859 in France (2021) · #8,692 in Ecuador (2014) · #296 in Scotland (1979).

Famous Watsons

Watson Duke — Tobagonian politician (born 1965)
Watson Brown — American football player and coach (born 1950)
Watson Nyambek — Malaysian sprinter (born 1976)
Watson Spoelstra — American sportswriter (1910–1999)
Watson Kirkconnell — Canadian translator and scholar (1895–1977)

As a surname

It is also an American family name — about 253,000 people carried it as a surname in the 2010 census.

Emma Watson — English actress (born 1990)
James Watson — American molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist and Nobel Laureate (1928–2025)
John B. Watson — American psychologist (1878–1958)

In stories & tradition

Watson — WarGames character

What Watsons become

Among 52 notable people named Watson:

Political leaders appear 1.62× more often than among typical names — e.g. Watson C. Squire, 12th Territorial Governor of Washington (1838–1926).

Similar names: Loyal · Warner · True · Orson · Ellison · Judson

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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