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Dawson

Boy name · 147 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Dawson: 147 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 17 births in 2025.

Dawson began as a Scottish and English surname, a patronymic meaning "son of Daw" – Daw itself being a medieval nickname for David, from the Hebrew "beloved." Though less common in Scotland than surnames like Thomson, it has gained steady use as a first name since the late 20th century, lifted in part by the 1998 teen drama *Dawson's Creek* and its protagonist Dawson Leery. Real-life bearers include American footballer Dawson Knox and Canadian geologist George Mercer Dawson, after whom Dawson City in the Yukon and several Dawson counties across North America are named. The name’s soft, open sound keeps it feeling fresh, while its Scottish roots tie it to a strong tradition of using clan and family surnames as given names.