Namewise

Donald vs Hudson

Donald and Hudsoncompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.

Head to head

Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Donald was ranked #1595 and Hudson #42 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Donald was ranked #432 and Hudson #54 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2019, Donald was ranked #764 and Hudson #257 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Donald and Hudson over time

Donald and Hudson appear together in 1 published list, across 29 years of shared records. Hudson held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Donald in 0.

The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Donald reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Hudson in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.

Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.

How this pair is related

The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Hudson rose about as far as Donald fell — from #680 and #2863 in 1996 to #1595 and #42 in 2024.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 19962024

    Donald held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Hudson in 23.

    Highest recorded here: Donald #680 in 1996, Hudson #42 in 2024.

    The order changed in 2003: Hudson moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #1190 and #2005; by 2003 that had become #2470 and #1092.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Donald #1595, Hudson #42.

Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Donald, Hudson
FieldDonaldHudson
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recorded'Son of Hudde', an English surname associated with explorer Henry Hudson.
OriginNot yet recordedEnglish (patronymic surname)
Pronunciation/ˈhʌd.sən/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationScotland · Boys #432 (2024)New South Wales, Australia · Boys #8 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Hudson has a recorded origin (English (patronymic surname)); Donald does not have one recorded yet.
  • Donald and Hudson both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Hudson; Donald doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Donald

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #45 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1954–1969

    Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1969).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2024

    Most recently recorded at #1595 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.

    England and Wales · Boys

Hudson

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1996

    First recorded at #2863 among boys in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    England and Wales · Boys

  2. Highest recorded2012–2025

    Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2012–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys