Robinson

Meaning of Robinson

Robinson, a masculine given name of Anglo-American usage, derives from the English patronymic tradition in which the suffix –son is appended to the medieval personal name Robin (itself a diminutive of Robert, introduced into England via Norman-French influence), thereby denoting “son of Robin” and encapsulating a historical emphasis on lineage. Pronounced RAHB-in-suhn (/ˈrɑbɪnsən/), this appellation has seen stable yet modest adoption in the United States, where, according to Social Security Administration data, it has consistently ranked between 892nd and 912th in annual male name popularity from 2022 to 2024—corresponding to roughly thirty annual occurrences—a pattern indicative of measured continuity rather than abrupt ascendancy or decline. The name’s cultural associations—ranging from Daniel Defoe’s castaway protagonist in Robinson Crusoe to the barrier-breaking achievements of Jackie Robinson in professional baseball—contribute to its technical resonance and lend an undercurrent of pioneering resolve to its etymological solidity. In sum, Robinson offers a blend of historical depth, structural clarity, and restrained distinction within contemporary naming conventions.