How to say it
LAW · son
ˈlɔː.sən
Masculine
Lawson
Son of Lawrence
What it means
An English surname, 'son of Law,' Law being a medieval short for Lawrence.
Lawson is an English surname meaning 'son of Law,' where Law was the everyday medieval short for Lawrence, itself from the laurel-town of Laurentum. It moved up front on the same -son wave as Mason and Carson, with a sturdy, slightly Southern ring and the bonus nickname Law. Steady and surname-cool.
How to spell Lawson
The standard spelling is Lawson. Common variants include Lawsen, Lawston, but Lawson is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #357 in 2020, currently #381 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
- Spelling
Means 'son of Lawrence'; fits the -son surname-first set.
- Nickname
Law drops out as a short.
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.
- Nigella Lawson English food writer and television cook whose surname anchors the given name
Spelling variants
- Lawsen
- Lawston
Names with the same feeling
See Lawson from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Lawson mean?
- An English surname, 'son of Law,' Law being a medieval short for Lawrence.
- What does Lawson mean in English?
- In English, Lawson means "Son of Lawrence." Lawson is an English surname meaning 'son of Law,' where Law was the everyday medieval short for Lawrence, itself from the laurel-town of Laurentum. It moved up front on the same -son wave as Mason and Carson, with a sturdy, slightly Southern ring and the bonus nickname Law. Steady and surname-cool.
- How do you pronounce Lawson?
- Lawson is pronounced ˈlɔː.sən. Say it as LAW-son, with the stress on the "law" syllable.
- How do you spell Lawson?
- The standard spelling is Lawson. Common spelling variants include Lawsen, Lawston.
- Is Lawson a boy or girl name?
- Lawson is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Lawson?
- Lawson ranked #381 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.