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Mason

♂ Boy

Pronounced MAY-sun /ˈmeɪ.sən/High

Meaning: Stone worker; one who builds with stone; masonHigh

In 30 seconds: An occupational surname meaning 'stone worker,' Mason leapt from surname to first name in the 21st century and claimed the #1 U.S. boys' spot in 2011 and 2012.
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Origin HighOld French, Old English
MeaningStone worker; one who builds with stone; mason
Peak year2011
Total births (all-time)≈ 270,859

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201118802017

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

History & Origin

Mason is an occupational surname derived from Old French maçon (from a Germanic root), referring to a craftsman who builds with stone or brick. The craft was central to medieval European construction, especially in building churches, castles, and civic structures.

As a first name, Mason was rare until the 21st century. It shot to prominence in the 2010s, partly influenced by celebrity culture (the Kardashian family named a son Mason in 2009). It reached #1 on the U.S. boys' chart in 2011 and 2012 and has remained in the top 20 since.

Did you know? Masonry — the craft of building with stone — was one of the most skilled and prestigious trades of the medieval period. The stonemasons who built cathedrals formed craft guilds that later evolved into Freemasonry, the world's largest fraternal organization.

Variations

MaysonMasen

Nicknames

MaceMase

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Mason…

Logan— shares the rugged surname-origin American boys' name appeal
Jackson— equally American-heritage surname turned popular first name
Carter— another occupational surname on the same naming trajectory
Hudson— shares the explorer/rugged American spirit feel
Wyatt— similar frontier-American surname heritage

Frequently Asked

What does the name Mason mean?

Mason is an occupational surname from Old French maçon, meaning 'one who works with stone' — one of the most skilled trades of the medieval era.

How do you pronounce Mason?

Mason is said MAY-sun /ˈmeɪ.sən/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Mason a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Mason?

Mason was the #1 U.S. boys' name in 2011 and 2012 and has remained in the top 20 since, one of the most successful surname-to-first-name transitions in recent history.