I hate sizing on socks because the "right" size in big boy socks are HUGE on little feet.
For a while, I would look in the toddler section and get the ones that were extra-large, possibly labeled age 3 - 5. Don't remember what brand. Those worked for the interim.
Now Mark can wear those 9 - 2.5 socks pretty well because he is in a size 12 shoe. They get pretty snug at the top range as well.