Find out how popular the first name Gibson has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Gibson by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Gibson is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 97% of people named Gibson being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 108 male babies and 8 female babies born with the name Gibson.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 8 baby girls were named Gibson in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Gibson

The name Gibson originates from an English surname derived from the medieval personal name Gib, a shortened form of the name Gilbert. Gilbert is an ancient Germanic name composed of the elements "gisil" meaning hostage or noble youth, and "berht" meaning bright or famous.

The earliest recorded use of the name Gibson as a first name dates back to the late 16th century in England. It emerged as a given name derived from the already established English surname Gibson, which was initially an occupational name for a young man who worked as an attendant or servant.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Gibson was Sir John Gibson (1637-1717), an English politician and landowner who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1692. Another notable historical figure was William Gibson (1644-1702), an English Catholic priest and philosopher who was a prominent writer on logic and metaphysics.

In the 18th century, Gibson Clough (1700-1763) was an English author and poet known for his work "The Autobiography of a Censor." In the 19th century, Gibson Watt (1804-1876) was a Scottish inventor and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of early steam engine technology.

A more recent example is Gibson Kente (1932-2004), a prominent South African playwright and director who was instrumental in the development of contemporary black theatre in South Africa. His works, such as "Too Late" and "Mama and the Load," explored themes of social injustice and the struggles of urban life during the apartheid era.

Throughout history, the name Gibson has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and fields, reflecting its enduring appeal and versatility as a given name.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Gibson was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Gibson, please contact us.

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