- Origin: English
- Meaning: “son of Hudde.”
- Gender: Male
- HUD-zen; HUD-sen
- First Est. 1697
From the transferred use of the English surname, meaning “son of Hudde.” The element Hudde is an early Middle English diminutive of Hugh. In some medieval contexts, Hudde was also used as a diminutive of Richard, likely through phonetic blending and nickname overlap (compare “Hodge” and “Hob” from Richard/Robert).
As a given name, Hudson first appears as early as 1697, in the record of Hudson Spencer, baptized in Canterbury, Kent, England.
As a surname, it was well established by the 14th century, appearing in English tax rolls and parish records. It was most famously borne by Henry Hudson (c.1565–1611), the English explorer and navigator for whom the Hudson River and Hudson Bay are named.
An early notable bearer of the given name was Hudson Lowe (1769–1844), a British Army general who served as governor of St. Helena during Napoleon’s exile.
Hudson first appeared in the U.S. Top 1000 male names in 1880, debuting at #909.
It remained within the lower ranks of the Top 500 from 1881–1919, peaking at #538 in 1893, before fading from use through most of the 20th century. The name re-entered the Top 1000 in 1995 and climbed rapidly in popularity, reaching the Top 100 in 2012. As of 2024, Hudson ranks #22 in the United States. His rankings in other countries are as follows:
- #7 (Australia)
- #15 (New Zealand)
- #22 (Canada, 2023)
- #42 (England and Wales)
- #54 (Scotland)
- #76 (Northern Ireland)
The name is also used in Brazil.
A crisp, modern classic with roots in medieval England, Hudson combines rugged charm with upper-crust polish. Its surge in the 2000s was helped by the surname-as-first-name trend that swept English-speaking countries.
Today, Hudson evokes strength, exploration, and refinement — a name that bridges heritage and modern appeal.
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