Hudson Overview
- Meaning: “Son of Hugh”, “Son of Hudd”
- Gender: Unisex, but primarily male, surname
- Origin: English
- Pronunciation: “hud-suhn”
- Popularity: Very popular in the US
- Nicknames: Hud, Sonny, Hugh
- Variations: Hudsyn, Hudsun
- Namesakes: Henry Hudson, Hudson Hawk
What Does Hudson Mean?
Hudson means “son of Hugh” or “son of Hudd.” Hudd was a first name often given to people who make hoods, and the name is also related to the name Richard.
What is the Origin of the Name Hudson?
Hudson originated as an English surname and traces back to the 13th century, and it evolved into a first name over time.
How Popular is the Name Hudson?
The name Hudson has had some degree of popularity since 1900. It hovered between the top 800 and 1,000 most popular names in the United States during the 20th century and started to rise in popularity in the mid-1990s. Throughout the 1990s, the name rose to the 600s and 700s in popularity.
Hudson skyrocketed in popularity throughout the 21st century. It rose from 588th most popular in 2000 to 34th most popular in 2021 (1).
This name is not quite as popular in the United Kingdom. It is currently ranked around the top 100 or 200 names.
How Do I Pronounce Hudson?
Pronounce the name Hudson like Hud-suhn.
Is Hudson a Boy or Girl Name?
Hudson is a name usually used for boys but can be a unisex first name and a surname.
Variations of Hudson
There are quite a few variations of the name Hudson. Some of these variations are alternate spellings, while other variations relate to the origin of the name Hudson. For example, Hugh, Hud, and Richard are all related to the origin of the name Hudson.
- Hugh
- Richard
- Hudsone
- Hudsen
- Hudsun
- Hudsan
- Hudsyn
- Hudsin
- Hugo
- Huges
- Huguette
Nicknames for Hudson
Thanks to its two syllables, Hudson strikes the balance between being simple and having some complexity. As a result, the name offers the opportunity for several fun nicknames. Most of these nicknames come from the sounds of the longer name.
- Hud
- Hudd
- Don
- Son
- Sun
- Sonny
- Sunny
- Huds
- Hugh
- Udson
- Huddy
- Hudsie
- Huddle
- Huddles
- Huddy Buddy
- Hutty
- Husky
- Hudly
- Duddie
- Dud
Similar Names to Hudson
So, maybe you like some aspects of the name Hudson, but you prefer to not use it as a name, many names are similar to Hudson. These names may have a similar sound, cadence, or popularity level. If you like Hudson because the name is used for a river, you may like names shared by other bodies of water.
- Edison
- Haddon
- Hutton
- Sutton
- Dawson
- Griffin
- Weston
- Thatcher
- Cooper
- Brooke
- Bay
- Cedar
- River
- Jordan
- Niles
- Brooklyn
- Logan
- Hayden
- Austen
- Ocean
Middle Names for Hudson
As a first name, Hudson works well with long and short middle names alike. Hudson can go well with middle names that have similar modern popularity to Hudson or you can opt for a more old-fashioned middle name. When choosing a middle name, consider names that have sounds in common with Hudson.
- Ford
- Firth
- Glyn
- James
- Blake
- Drew
- Kennedy
- Taylor
- Ryan
- Ezra
- Riley
- Quin
- Eden
- Emery
- Lyle
- Puck
- Guthrie
- Ellington
- Sage
- Oakley
Sibling Names for Hudson
When looking for a name for Hudson’s sibling, you want a name that sounds nice with Hudson but can stand on its own as well. You may want a name that is also popular in the 20th century or that is unisex.
- Sawyer
- Parker
- Avery
- Emerson
- Crimson
- Harriet
- Rowan
- Fifer
- Zephyr
- Solaris
- Cypress
- Hollis
- Lexington
- Bellamy
- Halston
- Timber
- True
- Revel
- Briar
- Kit
Famous People Named Hudson
While Hudson is a name used by several famous people as a first name, it is most popular as a surname. People with this name are actors, politicians, artists, athletes, inventors, and businesspeople.
- Hudson de Souza: Brazilian runner
- Hudson Rodrigues dos Santos: Brazilian footballer
- Hudson Fysh: Australian WWI soldier, Qantas Airways co-founder
- Hudson Leick: American actress
- Hudson Lowe: British army general
- Hudson Maxim: American inventor
- Hudson Mohawke: Scottish electric music producer stage name
- Hudson R. Sours: American politician
- Hudson Stuck: British mountain climber and Archbishop
- The Hudson Brothers: Band
- Henry Hudson: English explorer
- Rock Hudson: American actor
- Jennifer Hudson: American singer, actress (2)
- Ernie Hudson: American actor, playwright
- Kate Hudson: American actress
- Oliver Hudson: American actor
- Winifred Hudson: British painter
- William Hudson: Australian engineer
- Tim Hudson: American baseball player
- Orlando Hudson: American baseball player
Hudson in Popular Culture
Perhaps the most well-known use of the name Hudson is for the river in New York. Besides the river, there are quite a few fictional characters with the first or last name of Hudson. These characters include jewel thieves, wise old cars, and forgotten child stars. Many songs have the word “Hudson” in them.
- Hudson River: River in US
- Hudson Hawk: Hudson Hawk
- Stanley Hudson: The Office
- Doc Hudson: Cars
- Hudson Gimble: Game Shakers
- Angus Hudson: Upstairs Downstairs
- Baby Jane Hudson: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
- Finn Hudson: Glee
- Hudson Rail Company: Band
- She’ll Drive the Big Car: David Bowie
- Hudson Hymn: Goldie Luxe
- J’ai reve New York: Yves Simon
- Miracle on the Hudson: Blaze Bayley
- Hudson: Vampire Weekend
- My Dirty Stream (The Hudson River Song): Pete Seeger
- New York State of Mind: Billy Joel
Hudson FAQs
Do Any Other Names Have the Same Meaning As Hudson?
Hudson means son of Hugh or son of Hud. It also relates to people who make hoods. There are quite a few names that mean “son of Hugh.” These names include Magee and Mccue. Many names mean or relate to “son,” including Flynn, Dylan, Harrison, Benjamin, Reuben, Mac, Adam, Sonny, and Bartholomew.
What Does Hugh Mean?
Since the name Hudson comes from the name Hugh, it is a good idea to know about the meaning behind the name Hugh. Hugh is a British name that means soul, intelligence, or mind. While this name is not as popular as it used to be, Hugh is still known as the name of many famous figures throughout history.
