Total births
1,359
Boys' name · since 1880
Woodson
Since 1880, U.S. Social Security records show 1,359 babies named Woodson, peaking in 2025. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #2719
- among boys today
- 1,359
- born since 1880
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 81%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Woodson is the #2719 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 1,359 recorded since 1880.
Social Security Administration records show Woodson recorded 1,359 times among boys since 1880, holding rank #2719 nationally today, ahead of 81% of boys, peaking in the 2020s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 2025.
- #2719 among boys today
- 1,359 born since 1880
- 2020s peak decade
- 81% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Woodson is currently the #2719 boys' name in America, more common than 81% of boys - 1,359 born since 1880, peaking in the 2020s.
- #2719
- among boys today
- 1,359
- born since 1880
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 81%
- more common than other boys
Woodson vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#2719
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 81% of names given to boys today.
2020s
Peak decade
17% of everyone ever named Woodson was born in this single decade.
2025
Single peak year
56 babies were named Woodson in 2025 - its busiest year on record.
How Woodson compares
1,359 Top 26% higher than 74% 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
Woodson's all-time total is 4x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Woodson | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,359 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 56 | 23 | 22,252 |
Woodson's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Woodson splits its recorded history at 1949: 50% of all births land in the more recent half, 50% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1882 (5 births) -- compare that against the 2025 peak of 56 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Woodson at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2025
Current rank
#2,719
Active since
1880
Woodson popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–2025
- Peak year (2025)
- 56
- Annual births at peak, across 146 years of records
Woodson by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2020s was Woodson's strongest decade.
227 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 17% of all-time use.
Woodson births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 30
1880s
30 births
- 1890s 21
1890s
21 births
- 1900s 25
1900s
25 births
- 1910s
1910s
187 births
- 1920s
1920s
170 births
- 1930s
1930s
120 births
- 1940s
1940s
137 births
- 1950s
1950s
94 births
- 1960s 57
1960s
57 births
- 1970s 12
1970s
12 births
- 1980s 30
1980s
30 births
- 1990s 12
1990s
12 births
- 2000s 55
2000s
55 births
- 2010s
2010s
182 births
- 2020s
2020s
227 births
What this shows Peak: 2020s at 227 births (17% of all-time use).
How Woodson 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 Woodson's total volume
Woodson vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Woodson by state
Where Woodson concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kentucky | | 37 | 2.7% |
| #2 | Texas | | 29 | 2.1% |
| #3 | Missouri | | 6 | 0.4% |
| #4 | Arkansas | | 5 | 0.4% |
Kentucky share of Woodson's total US births 2.7%
Even split
37 of 1,359 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Woodson? ▼
Since 1880, Social Security records show 1,359 babies named Woodson. Today it holds rank #2719 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2025, with 56 births.
When was Woodson most popular? ▼
Woodson was most popular in the 2020s decade with 227 total births. The single peak year was 2025.
Where is Woodson most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Woodson are Kentucky (37 births), Texas (29 births), Missouri (6 births).
How long has the name Woodson been used? ▼
Woodson has been recorded in Social Security data since 1880, spanning 146 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Woodson? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Woodrow, Woody, Woodie, Woodroe, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Woodson's data
- Kentucky records the most Woodsons (37 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Kentucky 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 Woodson
Nearby Names Like Woodson
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Woodson
Woodrow Boy
#1690 39,107 births
Woody Boy
#7271 4,236 births
Woodie Boy
1,924 births
Woodroe Boy
784 births
Woods Boy
#1758 688 births
Compare Woodson side by side: Woodson vs Woodrow Woodson vs Woody Woodson vs Woodie
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Woodson
Data Sources
Data as of June 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, 1880–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Woodson: #2719 Boys' Name - 1,359 Births, Peak 2025." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/woodson. 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 Woodson 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 June 2026.