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Home β€Ί Baby Names Directory β€Ί Orson

Orson

β™‚ Boy

Pronounced OR-suhn /ΛˆΙ”ΙΉ.sΙ™n/Medium

Meaning: From a Norman French nickname from Latin 'ursus' (bear), meaning 'bear cub'.Medium

In 30 seconds: Orson comes from a Norman French nickname based on the Latin 'ursus' ('bear'), meaning 'bear cub'.
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Origin MediumLatin, English
MeaningFrom a Norman French nickname from Latin 'ursus' (bear), meaning 'bear cub'.
U.S. rank (2025)#1433 β†— Rising
2025 U.S. births126 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2023
Total births (all-time)β‰ˆ 2,712

Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data

peak 202318802025

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

The name began as a Norman French nickname drawn from Latin 'ursus', 'bear', with the affectionate sense 'bear cub'. That image of a small, sturdy bear has stayed with the name ever since.

Related forms include the Latin Ursus and the Italian Orso; bearers include the filmmaker Orson Welles, of Citizen Kane fame, and the science fiction author Orson Scott Card, who wrote Ender's Game.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Orson is 'bear', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Orson β€” etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration β€” 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

UrsusUrsOrso

Nicknames

β€”

Famous Bearers

  • β˜…Orson Welles (1915-1985)
    American actor, director, and writer celebrated for the film 'Citizen Kane' and the 1938 radio broadcast of 'The War of the Worlds'.
  • β˜…Orson Scott Card (1951-present)
    American science fiction author best known for the novel 'Ender's Game' and its sequels.

If you like Orson…

Talonβ€” the same nature feel
Canyonβ€” shares the -on ending
Vernonβ€” another English name
Altonβ€” echoes that soft -on sound
Lyndonβ€” a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Orson

By themeenglishnature

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Orson mean?

Orson is usually explained as meaning 'bear' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Orson?

It's commonly said OR-suhn /ΛˆΙ”ΙΉ.sΙ™n/.

Is Orson a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Orson is used as a boy name.

How popular is Orson?

In 2024, Orson ranked #1500 in the U.S. for boys, with 119 births recorded.

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