How to say it
CAR · son
ˈkɑr.sən
Masculine
Carson
Marsh dweller, or 'son of Carr'
What it means
Scottish surname of uncertain etymology, possibly from a Gaelic root for 'marsh' (carr) or 'son of Carr' (a Norse-derived personal name). Kit Carson the frontiersman + Carson Daly the TV host cover most of the cultural surface.
Carson is a Scottish surname of disputed etymology. The most common reading is from a Gaelic root carr ('rock' or 'marsh'); another reading is 'son of Carr' (Carr being a Norse-derived personal name). Kit Carson (1809-1868), the American frontiersman and trapper, gave the surname its Western anchor; Carson City, Nevada, is named for him. Carson Daly (the MTV TRL host turned NBC's The Voice) and Downton Abbey's butler Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) cover the modern English-language anchors. The first-name usage in the US started in the 1980s and is now solidly top-150.
How to spell Carson
The standard spelling is Carson. Common variants include Karson, but Carson is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #70 in 2018, currently #124 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Kit Carson and Carson Daly are the two dominant anchors; Downton Abbey's Mr. Carson the butler is the smaller third.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Kit Carson American frontiersman, scout, and Union general, 1809-1868
- Carson Daly American TV host, MTV's TRL and NBC's The Voice
Spelling variants
- Karson
Names with the same feeling
See Carson from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Carson mean?
- Scottish surname of uncertain etymology, possibly from a Gaelic root for 'marsh' (carr) or 'son of Carr' (a Norse-derived personal name). Kit Carson the frontiersman + Carson Daly the TV host cover most of the cultural surface.
- What does Carson mean in Scottish?
- In Scottish, Carson means "Marsh dweller, or 'son of Carr'." Carson is a Scottish surname of disputed etymology. The most common reading is from a Gaelic root carr ('rock' or 'marsh'); another reading is 'son of Carr' (Carr being a Norse-derived personal name). Kit Carson (1809-1868), the American frontiersman and trapper, gave the surname its Western anchor; Carson City, Nevada, is named for him. Carson Daly (the MTV TRL host turned NBC's The Voice) and Downton Abbey's butler Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) cover the modern English-language anchors. The first-name usage in the US started in the 1980s and is now solidly top-150.
- How do you pronounce Carson?
- Carson is pronounced ˈkɑr.sən. Say it as CAR-son, with the stress on the "car" syllable.
- How do you spell Carson?
- The standard spelling is Carson. Common spelling variants include Karson.
- Is Carson a boy or girl name?
- Carson is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Carson?
- Carson ranked #124 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.