Dauson
A boy's name of Old English origin with 42 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Dauson sits in the vintage zone of American naming: first recorded in 1998, peaking in 1999, with 42 total births across its history.
The grounded, surname-style quality of its ending — originally a patronymic in English and Scandinavian traditions — keeps the name compact and easy to pair with longer middle names or surnames.
Dauson is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Dauson is a boy's baby name, a variant spelling of Dawson, an Old English surname meaning 'son of Daw,' with Daw being a medieval pet form of David — ultimately from the Hebrew meaning 'beloved.'
Dawson gained traction as a first name through the 1990s TV series Dawson's Creek. Dauson simplifies the spelling while retaining the same strong, outdoorsy energy that makes surname-style names popular with American parents.
EtymologyShow more
Dauson appeared in SSA records in 1998, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Old English roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
With only 42 recorded births, Dauson has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Dauson has 6+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1998.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 6 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 20 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 16 | — |
The Story of Dauson
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 1999, Dauson is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Dauson are most likely born between 1998 and 2009.
How rare is Dauson?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Dauson is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1998, peaked in the 2000s with 20 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(6 years, 1998–2019)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 6 | #11079 |
| 2004 | 8 | #8297 |
| 2003 | 6 | #9856 |
| 2002 | 6 | #9639 |
| 1999 | 9 | #6658 |
| 1998 | 7 | #7750 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1998–2019