UK boy's name
Pearson
Son of a person associated with pears or a pear orchard.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2006. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Pearson is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Pearson popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2006 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4052, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2006 to 2006. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Pearson is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Pearson. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2007 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Pearson ranked #4052 for boys in England and Wales in 2006, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 3 boys were registered as Pearson.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Pearson as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4052
2006
Births in 2006
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Pearson mean?
The name Pearson originated from the English language and is believed to have emerged around the 12th century. It is a combination of the words "pear" and "son," suggesting that it was initially used to refer to the son of someone who cultivated or sold pears.
During the Middle Ages, names derived from occupations or familial relationships were common. Pearson likely belonged to this category, as it identified an individual's connection to the pear trade or cultivation.
While there are no known ancient texts or religious scriptures that directly mention the name Pearson, it is possible that it appeared in medieval records or documents related to trade or agriculture.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pearson is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, England, from the year 1199, where a person named William Pearson is mentioned.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Pearson. Here are five examples:
1. John Pearson (1613-1686), an English theologian and scholar who served as the Bishop of Chester and wrote several works on theology and biography.
2. Karl Pearson (1857-1936), an English mathematician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of statistics and developed the concept of the correlation coefficient.
3. Lester B. Pearson (1897-1972), a Canadian scholar, statesman, and diplomat who served as the 14th Prime Minister of Canada and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for his efforts in resolving the Suez Crisis.
4. Drew Pearson (1897-1969), an American journalist and author known for his influential "Washington Merry-Go-Round" newspaper column, which exposed numerous political scandals and earned him both praise and criticism.
5. Richmond Pearson Hobson (1870-1937), an American naval officer who gained fame for his attempt to sink the USS Merrimac in Santiago Harbor during the Spanish-American War, temporarily blocking the harbor entrance.
These individuals, spanning different centuries and fields, exemplify the varied contributions and accomplishments of those who have borne the name Pearson throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Pearson by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Pearson was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4052 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Pearson
- Patrick 17,559
- Peter 13,150
- Paul 8,542
- Philip 4,997
- Parker 4,664
- Phoenix 3,865
- Preston 3,370
- Prince 1,782
- Patryk 1,763
- Phillip 1,697
- Percy 1,395
- Perry 1,015
FAQ
Pearson: questions and answers
How popular is the name Pearson in the UK right now?
In 2006, Pearson was ranked #4052 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Pearson most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 3 babies registered as Pearson in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Pearson?
Son of a person associated with pears or a pear orchard.
How many people are called Pearson in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Pearson across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.