The first name Johnson
A boy’s name meaning “son of john”.
Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒɑnsən/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Johnson means “son of john”.
A patronymic surname from John + -son, literally “son of John”. * In the U.S. the name Johnson has been adopted by numerous European immigrant families originally named Johansson, Johnsson, Johansen, Jonsson, etc. * Doublet of Johansson, Johansen, Jansen, and Hansen.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 3 boys were named Johnson, making it the 5,137th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2010, with 15 births (#1,551).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Johnson with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Johnson at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 34 boys born in the United States were named Johnson, the 3,406th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2000, when 111 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Johnson in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
- Jonson
Famous people named Johnson
15 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Penny Johnson JeraldAmerican actress, born 1961
- Martin Johnson HeadeAmerican painter (1819-1904)
- William Johnson SollasBritish geologist and anthropologist (1849 – 1936)
- Frank Johnson GoodnowAmerican historian (1859–1939)
- Charles Johnson MaynardAmerican ornithologist, 1845–1929
- Johnson Newlon CamdenAmerican politician (1828-1908)
- Johnson BeharryBritish Army officer, born 1979
- Johnson HagoodConfederate Army general and Governor of South Carolina (1829–1898)
- Johnson N. Camden Jr.American politician (1865–1942)
- Josiah Johnson HawesAmerican photographer (1808–1901)
- Christopher McCandlessAmerican hiker and explorer (1968–1992)
- Don EllisAmerican jazz musician (1934-1978)
Questions
- What does the name Johnson mean?
- Johnson means “son of john”.
- How popular is the name Johnson?
- In 2025, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Johnson, ranking 5,137th. Its peak was 2010, with 15 births.
- Is Johnson a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 7,043 US babies named Johnson since 1880 were boys.
- When was Johnson most popular?
- 2000 in the United States, when 111 babies were named Johnson, its highest rank at 1,216th.
- How do you pronounce Johnson?
- Johnson is /ˈd͡ʒɑnsən/, 2 syllables.
- What are other spellings of Johnson?
- Jonson.
- Is Johnson also a surname?
- Yes. Johnson is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.