Names Inspired by Hudson

Hudson ranked multiple times before 1920. Since reentering the top 1000 in 1995, Hudson has been rising in use. It made the top 100 over ten years ago and is now making its way towards the top 20. 

As with any popular name, there are several factors to Hudson's appeal. While many surname-names are unisex, Hudson is completely masculine in use. Yet, the name sounds more suitable for a soft-hearted boy than it does for a soldier. Hudson also has an American vibe via the Hudson River Valley. It may be at its peak today, but Hudson feels established enough to age well. There is no automatic nickname, either. 

Parents who love Hudson but cannot use it because it is too popular or taken by family members or friends will enjoy this list of alternatives from below the top 100. The same is true for fans of the name looking for more names to daydream about. 

Here are some alternatives with parts of Hudson's appeal:

Alder

Alder is a brief surname-name that sounds slightly old-fashioned without having ever ranked. 

Benton

This masculine surname has a slight old-fashioned charm. 

Boone

The surname of American frontiersman Daniel Boone (1734-1820) has no short form. 

Boston

The name coming from the Capitol city of Massachusetts feels completely masculine and nickname-proof.

Broderick

Broderick is a charming masculine surname-name with enough history to feel established. 

Bronson

This masculine surname, famously worn by the father of author Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888), feels nicely old-fashioned. 

Crosby 

Crosby is a distinctive masculine surname with similar sounds to the family surname from The Cosby Show. 

Dallas

Dallas, which comes from a Texas city, has stood the test of time and sounds just as handsome as Hudson. 

Denver

This handsome all-American name is a Colorado city and an established, though unisex, choice for boys.

Foster

Foster is a vintage-sounding surname-name with no automatic short form. 

Gibson

This handsome masculine surname has no automatic nickname even though it can shorten to "Gib."

Hansen

Hansen never ranked, but there's something old-fashioned about this masculine surname. 

Hobson

This obscure surname has no automatic nickname and has only been used for boys. 

Holden

The name of J.D. Salinger's protagonist is a masculine surname with a similar-but-different sound to Hudson. It has gotten more popular but may not reach the top 100. 

Houston

Houston is the Capitol of Texas and, like Holden, has a similar sound and handsome vibe to Hudson. 

Huck

Huck is not a surname, but this rarity is still all-American via the nickname of Mark Twain's titular protagonist: Huckleberry Finn.  

Prescott

Masculine surname-name Prescott sounds handsome and established even though it never ranked. 

Princeton

Having the word "prince" in it, Princeton is clearly a handsome masculine surname. It is also the name of a New Jersey university. 

Rhodes

Rhodes is a handsome surname-name that does not feel made-up at all, nor does it shorten to anything. 

Stanton

Having a long history of masculine usage and historical bearers like Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902), this charming surname feels slightly old-fashioned. 

Truman

Presidential surname Truman is completely masculine in usage and has over a century of history. 

Tucson

Tucson, a city in Arizona, is a rare place name that sounds like a masculine surname. 

Upton

American writer Upton Sinclair (1878-1968), who hailed from the Northeast, ties his surname-name to this country and gives it Hudson's handsome charm. 

Wilder

This surname has American bearers, including writer Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957) and actor Gene Wilder (1933-2016), that make it feel established. 

What names would you add?