Orson

Orson - A very unique male name

Orson appeared on the charts for the first time in 1915 on position #1684. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Orson and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Orson? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Orson. The baby boy name Orson was given to 74 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1457 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 19,815 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Orson peaked in popularity 95 years ago in 1931 on position 1267.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Orson, 1-5?

Orson is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Orson is currently topping the baby name charts in Washington at position #789 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,864.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Orson is where you live.

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Orson origin and meaning

English and French, from a surname

Traditionally from French ourson, 'little bear' — Orson began as a surname and nickname from the word for a bear cub

Orson has been used in small numbers in America since 1915, kept alive almost single-handedly by the fame of Orson Welles. It is currently enjoying its best use ever as clunky vintage names are revived. The little-bear derivation is the traditional account of the surname behind it.

Attested etymology

Orson is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Orson, pop culture references for the name Orson and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Orson

We've found the following names that sound similar to Orson, sorted by popularity.

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Orson

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Orson a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Orson?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

OR-sun · /ˈɔːrsən/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Famous bearers

• Orson Welles — American actor and director, maker of Citizen Kane (1915–1985) Historical
• Orson Scott Card — American science-fiction author, known for Ender's Game (b. 1951) Contemporary

Style

SurnameLiteraryVintage revival

Why parents choose it

Orson is a connoisseur's vintage name — literary, a little theatrical, and currently at its most popular ever. Welles gives it weight; the sound keeps it friendly.

Worth knowing

• Orson Welles is the overwhelming association.
• It can be misheard as Austin or Dawson in quick speech.