Watson
How to say it: WOT-sun · /ˈwɑtsən/
English surname meaning 'son of Walter'; transferred to first-name use, popularized partly by Sherlock Holmes's companion.
Watson was the 916th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 224 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are up about 80% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,097 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #916 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 224 |
| Share of births | 1 in 14,800 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | +80% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,097 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Rising lately, Watson found its strongest showing in the 2020s. The next few years are likely to soften a little from that high.
What goes with it
Gentle sound with a strong undercurrent marks its two syllables. Wilson and Harrison share its rhythm.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Watson is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English.
Famous people named Watson
- Watson Washburn (1894–1973)American tennis player
- Watson C. Squire (1838–1926)American politician (Republican)
- Watson Kirkconnell (1895–1977)Canadian translator and scholar
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- IBM Watson AI system
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