Johnson: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#3,406

among boys · ↑153 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Johnson · +6% vs 2024

How common

1 in 50,238

boys born in 2025

Peak year

2000

111 babies

All-time total

7,043

#1,458 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Johnson popularity over time

7,043 babies have been named Johnson since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	126	126	13	–	#455
1890s	–	155	155	16	+23%	#353
1900s	–	221	221	22	+43%	#327
1910s	6	522	528	53	+139%	#592
1920s	–	632	632	63	+20%	#712
1930s	–	411	411	41	-35%	#870
1940s	–	472	472	47	+15%	#856
1950s	–	365	365	37	-23%	#1,044
1960s	–	352	352	35	-4%	#1,181
1970s	6	268	274	27	-22%	#1,560
1980s	10	822	832	83	+204%	#940
1990s	–	884	884	88	+6%	#1,089
2000s	–	879	879	88	-1%	#1,216
2010s	–	641	641	64	-27%	#1,939
2020s (to 2025)	–	271	271	45	-30%	#2,221

Where Johnson is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 boys (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 boys	Implied rank
2026	32	0.02	outside top 500
2027	30	0.02	outside top 500
2028	29	0.02	outside top 500
2029	28	0.02	outside top 500
2030	27	0.02	outside top 500

The story of Johnson

Johnson is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #3,406 in 2025 with 34 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 7,043 American babies have been named Johnson. Its peak came in 2000, when 111 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Johnson stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Johnson?

The median living Johnson is about 32 years old; half are between 18 and 45. An estimated 4,600 people named Johnson are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Johnson year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	34	#3,406
2024	–	–	32	#3,559
2023	–	–	48	#2,714
2022	–	–	49	#2,691
2021	–	–	46	#2,753
2020	–	–	62	#2,221
2019	–	–	59	#2,323
2018	–	–	55	#2,402
2017	–	–	61	#2,204
2016	–	–	72	#2,001
2015	–	–	75	#1,941
2014	–	–	61	#2,219
2013	–	–	62	#2,150
2012	–	–	64	#2,114
2011	–	–	72	#1,939
2010	–	–	60	#2,197
2009	–	–	85	#1,779
2008	–	–	71	#1,995
2007	–	–	95	#1,629
2006	–	–	94	#1,568
2005	–	–	78	#1,717
2004	–	–	87	#1,536
2003	–	–	97	#1,384
2002	–	–	79	#1,564
2001	–	–	82	#1,490
2000	–	–	111	#1,216
1995	–	–	93	#1,204
1990	–	–	89	#1,153
1985	–	–	82	#1,008
1980	–	–	55	#1,249
1975	–	–	25	#1,915
1970	–	–	19	#2,094
1965	–	–	37	#1,261
1960	–	–	38	#1,279
1955	–	–	31	#1,386
1950	–	–	46	#1,044
1945	–	–	47	#947
1940	–	–	32	#1,196
1935	–	–	39	#1,031
1930	–	–	52	#932
1925	–	–	57	#894
1920	–	–	69	#809
1915	–	–	74	#677
1910	–	–	24	#592
1905	–	–	38	#327
1900	–	–	36	#370
1895	–	–	13	#589
1890	–	–	16	#471
1885	–	–	13	#534
1880	–	–	13	#512

Famous people named Johnson

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi Military head of state of Nigeria in 1966 1924–1966 · Contemporary
2 Johnson Toribiong Palauan attorney and politician b. 1946 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Johnson, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Johnson?

The median living Johnson is about 32 years old. Half of all living Johnsons are between 18 and 45 years old.

How many people named Johnson are alive today?

An estimated 4,600 people named Johnson are alive in the United States, based on 7,043 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Johnson mean?

A patronymic surname from John +‎ -son, literally “son of John”.

How popular is the name Johnson in 2025?

Johnson ranked #3,406 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 34 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Johnson?

7,043 babies have been named Johnson in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Johnson most popular?

Johnson peaked in 2000, when 111 newborns received the name.

Is Johnson a boy or girl name?

Johnson is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Johnson rising or falling?

Johnson is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Will Johnson become more popular?

Johnson is trending downward. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 27 boys named Johnson in 2030, which would rank outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Who are famous people named Johnson?

Well-known people named Johnson include Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (politician), Johnson Toribiong (politician).

Names like Johnson

Names that sound and feel close to Johnson: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Johnson with similar names → More names starting with J →