Tyson

BoyEnglish, French· “firebrand; or son of Dye”

Meaning
firebrand; or son of Dye
Origin
English, French
Pronunciation
TY-suhn
Syllables
2
US rank 2025
#531
US babies 2025
565
Best rank
#237 (2009)
Peak year
2009

Meaning and origin of Tyson

Tyson is an English and French name that is usually said to mean “firebrand; or son of Dye”.

Tyson began as an English surname with two possible sources. One traces it to the Old French tison, a firebrand, a nickname for a fiery or quarrelsome person. The other reads it as son of Dye, a medieval short form of the female name Dionysia. As a first name it has a crisp, energetic feel, helped by famous bearers of the surname such as the boxer Mike Tyson and the astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. It sits comfortably beside other surname names ending in -son, like Jackson and Carson, and Ty is the natural nickname.

Popularity over time

05001k1.5k2k192019401960198020002020Peak 2009: 1,491
US babies named Tyson per year, 1880 to 2025

Tyson first appears in US Social Security records in 1912. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 60 different years, starting in 1966. Its best national rank was #237 in 2009, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,491 babies. In 2025, 565 babies were named Tyson, and it ranked #531 nationally. That is 50% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.

Its national rank moved from #2,750 in 1920, #1,940 in 1950, #244 in 1980, #335 in 2000, #238 in 2010, and #531 in 2025. Of the 48,395 US boys named Tyson since records began, 25% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 11,385 babies.

Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Brennan, Caiden, Braylon, Aaden, and Jonas.

Where it is most popular (2025)

In 2025, Tyson ranked highest in District of Columbia, Idaho, and Minnesota.

StateRank thereBabies
District of Columbia#2025
Idaho#27810
Minnesota#31320
Iowa#33012
Mississippi#33010

Gender, sound and spelling

In the US it is used almost only for boys.

Tyson is usually pronounced TY-suhn, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with T and ends in “-on”.

Middle names for Tyson

A few middle names that flow with Tyson: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.

Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
James Boy
JAYMZ
“holder of the heel, supplanter” · English
#6
John Boy
JAHN
“Yahweh is gracious” · Hebrew
#23
Leo Boy
LEE-oh
“lion” · Latin
#19
Rowan Unisex
ROH-uhn
“little red one; rowan tree” · Irish
#59

Sibling names for Tyson

Similar names

Jaxon Boy
JAK-suhn
“son of Jack” · American (modern coinage)
#115
Jaxson Boy
JAK-suhn
“son of Jack” · American (modern coinage)
#156
Greyson Boy
GRAY-suhn
“son of the steward” · English
#149
Braxton Boy
BRAK-stuhn
“Bracca's town” · Old English
#172
Kingston Boy
KIHNG-stuhn
“king's town” · English
#204
Paxton Boy
PAKS-tun
“from an English place name” · Old English
#338
Stetson Boy
STEHT-suhn
“uncertain; English surname” · English
#136
Mason Boy
MAY-suhn
“stoneworker” · English
#39
Waylon Boy
WAY-luhn
“form of Wayland, the legendary smith” · English
#56
Byron Boy
BY-ruhn
“at the cattle sheds” · Old English
#981
Fletcher Boy
FLECH-er
“arrow maker” · English
#547
Maison Boy
MAY-zuhn
“house; variant of Mason” · French
#1,294

Lists that include Tyson

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Tyson mean?

Tyson is an English and French name that is usually said to mean “firebrand; or son of Dye”.

What is the origin of the name Tyson?

Tyson has English and French roots. Tyson began as an English surname with two possible sources.

Is Tyson a popular name?

Yes. Tyson ranked #531 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.

Is Tyson a boy or girl name?

Tyson is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.

How do you pronounce Tyson?

Tyson is usually pronounced TY-suhn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.

Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings