Fun Facts About the Name Ranson
- 363 babies named Ranson: U.S. records list 363 babies given the name Ranson from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Ranson Mean?
Ranson is an English patronymic surname also used as a masculine given name. The usual etymology derives it from the Middle English personal name Rand(e) plus -son, giving "son of Rand." Rand was a medieval short form of names such as Randolph, from the Germanic elements rand ("shield") and wolf ("wolf"), and Randall, an English form of the same Germanic name. The surname originally identified a person as the son of someone called Rand; it is not a descriptive phrase meaning "shield-wolf."
Some name lists connect Ranson with Ransom, but Ransom has a different origin in Middle English ransoun, "redemption" or "ransom," ultimately from Latin redemptio, and does not contain the patronymic -son. The similarity between the two names is one of form rather than shared etymology.
Ranson Name History & Origins
Ranson belongs to the large group of English surnames formed with -son, a suffix that identified a person as the son of a named individual. Such surnames became hereditary in England during the later Middle Ages and were especially common in northern and midland counties. In origin, a bearer of the name was identified as the son of a man called Rand, whether Rand was his full personal name or a short form of Randolph or Randall.
Its use as a first name is a transferred use of the surname, following the English practice of taking family names as given names. In English-speaking countries it is used as a masculine given name, and its history in that role is tied to the surname.
How Popular is the Name Ranson?
Ranson has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2003. Its best rank was #2,597 in 1914.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11,691 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #11,983 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #11,818 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2018 | #11,821 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #11,874 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #10,485 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #13,590 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #12,223 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #8,755 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #10,402 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #11,030 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #5,809 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #6,935 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2001 | #11,895 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #10,046 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #11,223 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #9,370 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #6,501 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #8,634 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #7,573 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #5,559 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1991 | #7,107 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #9,181 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1989 | #6,090 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #4,707 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1987 | #4,868 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1986 | #4,752 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1985 | #5,616 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #7,053 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #6,826 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #4,485 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1974 | #5,817 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #4,144 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1968 | #4,602 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #3,877 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #4,378 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1955 | #4,271 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1947 | #2,827 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1946 | #3,451 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #2,597 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1941 | #3,418 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1939 | #3,861 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1938 | #3,451 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #3,909 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1935 | #4,039 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1930 | #3,914 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1929 | #4,424 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1927 | #4,670 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1924 | #4,828 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1923 | #4,752 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1921 | #4,837 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #3,676 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1916 | #4,376 | 5 | 0.0006% |
| 1915 | #3,012 | 8 | 0.0009% |
| 1914 | #2,597 | 8 | 0.0012% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Ranson
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with R
How the Name Ranson Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Ranson's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ranson's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.