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Home › Baby Names Directory › Gunnison

Gunnison

♂ Boy

Pronounced GUN-ih-sun /ˈɡʌn.ɪ.sən/High

Meaning: An American place name and surname. The Gunnison River, town, and county in Colorado are named for John W. Gunnison, the army officer and surveyor who explored the region in the 1850s. As a surname it is a patronymic — 'son of Gunni,' from a Norse-rooted personal name.Low

In 30 seconds: A Western place-name: Gunnison is a Colorado river, town, and county (said 'GUN-ih-sun'). Rugged and American.
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Origin MediumAmerican, English
MeaningAn American place name and surname. The Gunnison River, town, and county in Colorado are named for John W. Gunnison, the army officer and surveyor who explored the region in the 1850s. As a surname it is a patronymic — 'son of Gunni,' from a Norse-rooted personal name.
U.S. rank (2021)#8395 ↗ Rising
2021 U.S. births9 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2015
Total births (all-time)≈ 99

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201519992021

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Gunnison is an American place name and surname. The Gunnison River carved the Black Canyon of Colorado, and the river, the town, and the county all carry the name of John W. Gunnison, the army officer and surveyor who explored the region in the 1850s. As a surname it is a patronymic, 'son of Gunni,' from a Norse-rooted personal name. It reads rugged and Western. Very rare (said 'GUN-ih-sun').

It appears only very rarely in the U.S. Rare, place-based, and rugged.

Did you know? Gunnison names a river, a town, and a county in Colorado — all after John W. Gunnison, the army surveyor who mapped the region in the 1850s. As a surname it means 'son of Gunni' (said 'GUN-ih-sun').
Overall data confidence 48%
References — Gunnison — Colorado place name; John W. Gunnison; surname 'son of Gunni'

Variations

GunnerGunnarGunnison

Nicknames

GunnSonny

Famous Bearers

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If you like Gunnison…

Gunnar— a like Gunn- root name
Gunner— a like Gunn- pick
Harrison— a like -ison surname name
Denver— a like Colorado place-name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Gunnison mean?

Gunnison is an American place name — a Colorado river, town, and county named for surveyor John W. Gunnison. As a surname it means 'son of Gunni.'

How do you pronounce Gunnison?

It's said GUN-ih-sun /ˈɡʌn.ɪ.sən/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Gunnison a boy or girl name?

Gunnison is used here as a boy's name.

How popular is Gunnison?

Gunnison is a very rare name in the U.S.

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