Given name & surname
Colson
“of the victorious people”·“a swarthy woman; having coal-black hair”·“having dark features; having coal-black hair”
Colson is a variant of Coulson. In French use, Coulson carries the interpretation “of the victorious people.” Colson is a variant of Cole. Interpretations include “a swarthy woman; having coal-black hair” (English) and “having dark features; having coal-black hair” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Colson is a variant of Coulson. In French use, Coulson carries the interpretation “of the victorious people.” Colson is a variant of Cole. Interpretations include “a swarthy woman; having coal-black hair” (English) and “having dark features; having coal-black hair” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Colson is a variant of Cole. A possible origin is English, although the derivation remains uncertain. Colson connects to the Nicholas name family through Coulson. An origin associated with Nicholas is Dutch.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In French usage, Colson is an affectionate form of Nicolas. In English usage, Colson as a surname has a “son of” formation linked to Coll.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1924. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Colson is a variant of Cole. The history of Cole gives this family its wider story. Cole’s naming history includes the use of a family name as a given name. Colson connects to the Nicholas name family through Coulson. The history of Nicholas gives this family its wider story. Nicholas’s Christian associations include Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop of Myra in Lycia, about whom virtually nothing factual is known.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Colson through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 9,729
- 9,729 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 1,099 babies
- 2025
- 1,099
- #311 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +105%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,099 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 311 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 105.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Ohio had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (83). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,752 as a first name in 2020; 9,365 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Colson’s family of names
In French usage, Colson is an affectionate form of Nicolas. In English usage, Colson as a surname has a “son of” formation linked to Coll. Colson has a related form in Cole.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Colson
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Colson, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Conan
“resembling a wolf” · “one who is high and mighty”
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Lucian
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Nixon
“of the victorious people”
95% boys · 5% girls
Santi
“a holy man” · “refers to Saint James”
98% boys · 2% girls
Leo
“lion” · “resembling a lion”
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Ambrose
“immortal, divine”
98% boys · 2% girls
Benedict
“one who is blessed”
>99% boys
Nicolo
“of the victorious people”
>99% boys