Hobson

A boy's name of Old English origin with 436 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

A surname originating as a patronymic.

Hobson is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, a patronymic surname meaning 'son of Hob,' Hob being a medieval diminutive of Robert, which means 'bright fame.' As a given name, it carries the dignified character of English hereditary surnames.

Hobson is famously associated with the phrase 'Hobson's choice' — meaning no real choice at all — from 17th-century Cambridge stable owner Thomas Hobson. As a given name, it has the quirky, literary character of surname-names that reward those who understand the reference.

EtymologyShow more

Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Hobson is rooted in the Old English tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1898 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.

Hobson’s rarity (436 recorded births) may indicate it is strongly tied to a specific cultural community or family tradition, rather than part of the broader American naming mainstream.

At a Glance

436

Total births

Since 1898

1898

Peak

38 births

1898

First recorded

124 years of data

Compare Hobson with another name

Popularity Over Time

Hobson has 50+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1898.

First appeared: 1898Peak: 1898 (38 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Hobson
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	10	#12796	▼
2010s	30	#10167	▲
1970s	5	#5804	▼
1960s	10	#4287	▼
1950s	34	#3743	▲
1940s	33	#3178	▼
1930s	66	#2942	▼
1920s	112	#2657	▲
1910s	60	#2819	▲
1900s	23	#1079	▼
1890s	53	#411	—

The Story of Hobson

A Greatest Generation name

Peaking in 1898, Hobson is a name steeped in history. Boys named Hobson are most likely born between 1898 and 1908.

How rare is Hobson?

With fewer than 500 recorded births, Hobson is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1898, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 112 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Hobson by the numbers

Would fill 9 school buses
Meeting one Hobson per day would take 1.2 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(50 years, 1898–2021)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Hobson
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2021	5	#12821	0
2020	5	#12770	-3 (-37.5%)
2017	8	#9152	-3 (-27.3%)
2016	11	#7317	+5 (83.3%)
2014	6	#11232	+1 (20.0%)
2010	5	#12968	0
1975	5	#5804	0
1964	5	#4286	0
1960	5	#4288	0
1959	5	#4246	-1 (-16.7%)
1955	6	#3675	0
1953	6	#3593	0
1952	6	#3527	+1 (20.0%)
1951	5	#3938	-1 (-16.7%)
1950	6	#3479	0
1947	6	#3521	-1 (-14.3%)
1946	7	#3020	+1 (16.7%)
1945	6	#3144	-2 (-25.0%)
1943	8	#2834	+2 (33.3%)
1942	6	#3370	0

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hobson a boy's or girl's name?

Hobson is primarily a boy's name.

When was Hobson most popular?

Hobson reached its peak popularity in 1898 with 38 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Hobson?

Hobson is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 436 babies in the U.S. since 1898. Its peak was in 1898.

Explore More

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1898–2021