Total births
747
Boys' name · since 1920
Carlson
Since 1920, U.S. Social Security records show 747 babies named Carlson, peaking in 2016. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #6242
- among boys today
- 747
- born since 1920
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 56%
- more common than other boys
Carlson currently ranks #6242 among boys' names in America, with 747 babies recorded since 1920.
Social Security Administration records show Carlson recorded 747 times among boys since 1920, holding rank #6242 nationally today, ahead of 56% of boys, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1920 to 2025.
- #6242 among boys today
- 747 born since 1920
- 2010s peak decade
- 56% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Carlson is currently the #6242 boys' name in America, more common than 56% of boys - 747 born since 1920, peaking in the 2010s.
- #6242
- among boys today
- 747
- born since 1920
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 56%
- more common than other boys
Carlson vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#6242
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 56% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
18% of everyone ever named Carlson was born in this single decade.
2016
Single peak year
19 babies were named Carlson in 2016 - its busiest year on record.
How Carlson compares
747 Top 36% higher than 64% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Carlson's all-time total is 104% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Carlson | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 747 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 19 | 23 | 22,252 |
Carlson's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Carlson's SSA record in two at 1984 and the more recent half accounts for 58% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 42%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1926, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2016 peak of 19, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Carlson at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2016
Current rank
#6,242
Active since
1920
Carlson popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1920–2025
- Peak year (2016)
- 19
- Annual births at peak, across 106 years of records
Carlson by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Carlson's strongest decade.
133 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 18% of all-time use.
Carlson births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1920s 41
1920s
41 births
- 1930s 23
1930s
23 births
- 1940s
1940s
64 births
- 1950s
1950s
72 births
- 1960s 53
1960s
53 births
- 1970s 47
1970s
47 births
- 1980s
1980s
54 births
- 1990s
1990s
92 births
- 2000s
2000s
117 births
- 2010s
2010s
133 births
- 2020s 51
2020s
51 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 133 births (18% of all-time use).
How Carlson compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Carlson's total volume
Carlson vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Carlson by state
Where Carlson concentrates geographically, total births since 1920
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 5 | 0.7% |
| #2 | New York | | 5 | 0.7% |
California share of Carlson's total US births 0.7%
Even split
5 of 747 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Carlson? ▼
Carlson has been given to 747 babies in the U.S. since 1920, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #6242 as of the latest data. 19 babies were born in 2016, its single highest year.
When was Carlson most popular? ▼
Carlson was most popular in the 2010s decade with 133 total births. The single peak year was 2016.
Where is Carlson most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Carlson are California (5 births), New York (5 births).
How long has the name Carlson been used? ▼
Records for Carlson go back to 1920, giving 106 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Carlson? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Carl, Carlos, Carter, Carson, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Carlson's data
- Carlson's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (133 total births) through the 2020s (51) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Carlsons (5 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Carlson
Nearby Names Like Carlson
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Carlson
Carl Boy
#1031 504,827 births
Carlos Boy
#135 307,036 births
Carter Boy
#46 206,833 births
Carson Boy
#124 132,774 births
Carlton Boy
#2791 48,890 births
Compare Carlson side by side: Carlson vs Carl Carlson vs Carlos Carlson vs Carter
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Carlson
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1920–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Carlson: #6242 Boys' Name - 747 Births, Peak 2016." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/carlson. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Carlson draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.