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

Popularity of Hudson by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Hudson is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 98% of people named Hudson being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 7,935 male babies and 83 female babies born with the name Hudson.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 83 baby girls were named Hudson in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Hudson

The name Hudson has its origins in the Old English language, derived from the combination of two words: "hūs" meaning house, and "dūn" meaning hill or down. This suggests that the name originally referred to a person who lived on a hill or near a particular house.

In its early forms, the name was spelled as "Hudsund" or "Hudsonde" in ancient records dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to have originated in the northern regions of England, particularly in areas such as Yorkshire and Lancashire.

One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Hudson was Sir Henry Hudson, an English explorer and navigator who lived from around 1565 to 1611. He is renowned for his numerous voyages to the Arctic regions, including the discovery of the Hudson River and Hudson Bay, which were both named after him.

Another notable figure was Hendrick Hudson, a Dutch explorer born around 1565, who is often confused with his English counterpart, Sir Henry Hudson. Hendrick Hudson is credited with exploring the Hudson River, which later became part of the Dutch colony of New Netherland.

In the literary world, Hudson Strode (1892-1976) was an American author and educator known for his biographies of notable figures such as Woodrow Wilson and Ethan Allen.

Moving to the realm of music, Hudson Whittaker (1931-1981) was an American singer and songwriter who co-wrote the hit song "Tainted Love" for the band Soft Cell.

In more recent history, Hudson Yang (born 2003) is an American actor best known for his role as Eddie Huang in the sitcom "Fresh Off the Boat."

While these examples highlight the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals named Hudson, it is important to note that the name has been used across various cultures and time periods, reflecting its enduring appeal and historical significance.

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 Hudson was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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