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Hudson

♂ Boy

Pronounced HUD-sun /ˈhʌd.sən/High

Meaning: Son of Hugh; son of the hooded one; son of mind and spiritHigh

In 30 seconds: An English surname meaning 'son of Hugh,' Hudson carries the spirit of exploration — the great river and the bold navigator who sailed it are both famous bearers of this name.
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Origin HighOld English, Germanic
MeaningSon of Hugh; son of the hooded one; son of mind and spirit
Peak year2016
Total births (all-time)≈ 54,182

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201618802017

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Hudson is a patronymic English surname meaning 'son of Hud' or 'son of Hugh.' The given name Hugh derives from the Old High German Hugo, from hug meaning 'mind' or 'spirit.' The surname became associated with the explorer Henry Hudson.

Hudson was used as a given name throughout the 19th and 20th centuries in the United States but was not especially common. It began rising sharply in the 1990s as part of the broader trend of using surnames as first names. It entered the U.S. top 100 by the mid-2000s and continues to rank in the top 60.

Did you know? The Hudson River in New York State — one of America's most significant waterways — was named after the English explorer Henry Hudson (c. 1565–c. 1611), who sailed it in 1609 while searching for a northwest passage to Asia.

Variations

Hudsen

Nicknames

HudSonny

Famous Bearers

  • ★Henry Hudson (c. 1565–c. 1611)
    English sea explorer who sailed the river bearing his name in 1609.
  • ★Rock Hudson (1925–1985)
    American actor, Hollywood leading man of the 1950s–60s.

If you like Hudson…

Grayson— shares the surname-to-first-name trend with a similar feel
Mason— fellow occupational surname turned popular boys' name
Carter— another surname-origin name with the same adventurous energy
Wyatt— shares the American frontier heritage feel
Hunter— another nature/occupation surname with the same modern edge

Frequently Asked

What does the name Hudson mean?

Hudson is an English patronymic surname meaning 'son of Hugh,' where Hugh derives from Old High German meaning 'mind' or 'spirit.'

How do you pronounce Hudson?

Hudson is said HUD-sun /ˈhʌd.sən/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Hudson a boy or girl name?

Hudson is used almost exclusively as a boy's name.

How popular is Hudson?

Hudson has ranked in the U.S. top 60 boys' names since the early 2010s, benefiting from the broad popularity of surname-style first names.