Hudson
HUD-sun /ˈhʌd.sən/
Meaning of Hudson
Hudson is an English patronymic surname meaning 'son of Hudd' — Hudd being a medieval short form of either Hugh or Richard. The first-name use is largely 21st-century and tracks the broader American trend of using single-syllable surnames as boys' first names (alongside Hunter, Mason, Carter, Cooper).
Current popularity of Hudson
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #39 |
Notable bearers of Hudson
Henry Hudson (English explorer); Rock Hudson (actor); the Hudson River.
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Hudson — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31