Watson

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.

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.

See how Watson ranks in other countries and regions.

#974 in Canada (2024).

Watson Washburn — American tennis player (1894–1973)
Watson C. Squire — American politician (Republican) (1838–1926)
Watson Kirkconnell — Canadian translator and scholar (1895–1977)
Watson Cheyne — British surgeon and bacteriologist (1852–1932)
Watson Nyambek — Athletics competitor

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

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

Among 52 notable people named Watson:

Political leaders appear 1.62× more often than among typical names — e.g. Watson C. Squire, American politician (Republican) (1838–1926).

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

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