Baby Name Studio

Boy Name · Surname Origin

Johnson

Rare · 7 letters · Son of John

Johnson means “Son of John”. It is a boy's name of Surname origin, and it is rare in the United States today — outside the SSA top 1,000.

Origin and meaning: English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0). Popularity: US Social Security Administration.

Johnson — a boy name from the Surname tradition — is an uncommon, standout choice. Its meaning, "Son of John", anchors the name in something deeper than sound alone. If Jameson is on your shortlist, Johnson belongs in the same conversation.

Johnson meaning, origin, and usage

Meaning: Son of John

Origin: Surname naming roots help connect Johnson to related Surname baby names.

Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Johnson as J·O·H·N·S·O·N, with 7 letters and a boy usage profile.

Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Johnson is an uncommon, standout choice in the Rare tier.

Johnson variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names

Frequently asked about Johnson

What does the name Johnson mean?

Johnson means "Son of John" and is of Surname origin. The meaning is recorded in English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0), and in US records Johnson is used as a boy name.

What is the origin of Johnson?

Johnson originates in Surname naming tradition.

How do you pronounce Johnson?

Johnson has 7 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.

Is Johnson a boy's or girl's name?

Johnson is primarily used as a boy's name in US records.

How popular is Johnson in 2026?

In our 2026 popularity tracker, Johnson sits in the Rare tier — an uncommon, standout choice.

What names are similar to Johnson?

Names that share Johnson's sound and style include Jameson, Janson, Jamieson, Jamison, Jensen.

What middle names pair well with Johnson?

Good middle-name fits for Johnson pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Johnson is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Johnson is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.

What are good sibling names for Johnson?

Sibling names that pair naturally with Johnson share its rhythm without rhyming — Jameson, Janson, Jamieson all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.