Dawson
Dawson Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
/ˈdɔː.sən/
Meaning of Dawson: Dawson means "son of Daw," where Daw was a medieval English nickname for David. David derives from the Hebrew Dawid, meaning "beloved" or "uncle" in ancient Semitic.
The nickname Daw was used in medieval England for people named David, following the common pattern of shortening names phonetically: David to Dave to Daw.
The surname Dawson was established in England by the thirteenth century, carried by families descended from men named Daw. It traveled to North America with English settlers and appears in colonial records across New England and the Southeast.
What Does Dawson Mean? Origin & Etymology
As a given name, Dawson gained its most direct modern association through the television series Dawson's Creek (1998-2003), which debuted on the WB network and became one of the defining teen dramas of its era.
The character Dawson Leery -- introspective, film-obsessed, emotionally eloquent -- gave the name a specific intellectual, sensitive masculine identity that appealed to a generation of parents.
Dawson entered the US top 1,000 for boys in 1993 and climbed through the late 1990s, peaking near rank 125 in the early 2000s. The TV show's premiere year saw the name's sharpest single-year jump.
Dawson ranked 195th for boys in the US in 2024. After its early 2000s peak, it has settled into a steady mid-range position within the cluster of -son ending English surnames that have remained popular in American naming for three consecutive decades.
Full etymology records and US popularity records at the Social Security Administration.
How Popular Is Dawson?
Numerology & Symbolism of Dawson
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Dawson – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Dawson
What does the name Dawson mean?
Dawson means "son of Daw," where Daw was a medieval English nickname for David. David derives from Hebrew Dawid, meaning beloved. Dawson is therefore an English patronymic meaning son of the beloved one -- an indirect but genuine expression of affection embedded in a surname tradition.
Is Dawson connected to Dawson's Creek?
Yes. The television series Dawson's Creek (1998-2003), set in a small Massachusetts coastal town, featured Dawson Leery as its protagonist. The show was a defining teen drama of the late 1990s, and Dawson's entry into the US top 1,000 in 1993 accelerated significantly with the show's 1998 premiere.
How popular is Dawson in the United States?
Dawson ranked 195th for boys in the US in 2024. It entered the top 1,000 in 1993 and peaked near rank 125 in the early 2000s. It has held a steady mid-range position since, fitting within the cluster of -son surname names that have remained popular for three decades.
How do you pronounce Dawson?
Dawson is pronounced DAW-sun, two syllables with stress on the first. The aw produces the same vowel sound as in law, draw, and saw. Pronunciation is consistent across all English-speaking regions.