Orson
How to say it: OR-sun · /ˈɔːrsən/
From Old French 'ourson' meaning 'bear cub' (Latin: 'ursus') - known via writer Orson Welles.
Orson was the 1,232nd most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 126 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 85% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #1,014 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #1,232 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 126 |
| Share of births | 1 in 26,312 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +85% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,014 |
| In France, 2025 | #1,330 among boys’ names, 15 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Orson is climbing: the 2020s are already its best decade.
What goes with it
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Orson is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #1,330 for boys in 2025.
England and Wales: #383.
Famous people named Orson
- Orson Welles (1915–1985)American actor and filmmaker
- Orson Scott Card (born 1951)American science fiction novelist
- Orson Bean (1928–2020)American actor
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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