Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Paisley
GirlScottish· “from a Scottish town; also a pattern”
- Meaning
- from a Scottish town; also a pattern
- Origin
- Scottish
- Pronunciation
- PAYZ-lee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #67
- US babies 2025
- 3,508
- Best rank
- #45 (2015)
- Peak year
- 2015
Meaning and origin of Paisley
Paisley is a Scottish name that is usually said to mean “from a Scottish town; also a pattern”.
Paisley is the name of a town near Glasgow in Scotland. The town gave its name to the swirling teardrop pattern, originally from Persian and Indian designs, that became famous after Paisley's weavers produced shawls in the style in the nineteenth century. The town name itself is often traced to a word for a church, possibly from Latin basilica, though this is not certain. As a given name Paisley is a recent American choice, fitting the fashion for names ending in -ley such as Hadley and Kinsley. It sounds playful and creative, and it carries associations with textiles, color and design.
Popularity over time
Paisley first appears in US Social Security records in 1966. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 20 different years, starting in 2006. Its best national rank was #45 in 2015, the same year it reached its highest count of 5,091 babies. In 2025, 3,508 babies were named Paisley, and it ranked #67 nationally. That is 31% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #8,791 in 1980, #1,919 in 2000, #238 in 2010, and #67 in 2025. Of the 65,369 US girls named Paisley since records began, 57% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 23,546 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Claire, Arianna, Skylar, Sadie, and Ariana.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Paisley ranked highest in West Virginia, Mississippi, and Idaho.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | #9 | 53 |
| Mississippi | #14 | 56 |
| Idaho | #20 | 46 |
| South Dakota | #22 | 24 |
| North Dakota | #22 | 22 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Paisley is usually pronounced PAYZ-lee, with two syllables. It has seven letters, starts with P and ends in “-ey”.
Middle names for Paisley
A few middle names that flow with Paisley: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Paisley
Similar names
Ainsley Girl
AYNZ-lee
“from an English place name” · English
#483
Sydney Girl
SIHD-nee
“from an English surname and place name” · Old English
#348
Isla Girl
EYE-luh
“from the Scottish island Islay” · Scottish
#28
Finley Unisex
FIHN-lee
“fair warrior” · Scottish
#415
Kinley Girl
KIHN-lee
“son of the fair warrior” · Scottish
#692
Finnley Unisex
FIN-lee
“fair warrior (variant of Finley)” · Scottish
#757
Chelsey Girl
CHEHL-see
“from Chelsea; chalk landing place” · English
#6,370
Riley Unisex
RY-lee
“rye clearing” · English
#48
Zoey Girl
ZOH-ee
“life” · Greek
#69
Audrey Girl
AW-dree
“noble strength” · English
#86
Kinsley Girl
KIHNZ-lee
“from an English place name” · English
#93
Dallas Unisex
DAL-uhs
“from the Scottish place Dallas” · Scottish
#238
Lists that include Paisley
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Paisley mean?
Paisley is a Scottish name that is usually said to mean “from a Scottish town; also a pattern”.
What is the origin of the name Paisley?
Paisley has Scottish roots. Paisley is the name of a town near Glasgow in Scotland.
Is Paisley a popular name?
Yes. Paisley ranked #67 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Paisley a boy or girl name?
Paisley is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Paisley?
Paisley is usually pronounced PAYZ-lee. 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