Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Peyton
UnisexEnglish, Old English· “Pacca's town”
- Meaning
- Pacca's town
- Origin
- English, Old English
- Pronunciation
- PAY-tuhn
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #199
- US babies 2025
- 1,559
- Best rank
- #42 (2009)
- Peak year
- 2009
Meaning and origin of Peyton
Peyton is an English and Old English name that is usually said to mean “Pacca's town”.
Peyton comes from an English surname based on a place name, usually explained as the settlement of a man called Pacca, from Old English tun, meaning town or enclosure. Surname names like this became fashionable as first names in the United States, and Peyton has been used for both boys and girls. The football quarterback Peyton Manning is a well-known bearer. The name is crisp and friendly, with a sporty, all-American feel. Spellings such as Payton and Paityn are also common, though Peyton remains the most familiar. It needs no nickname and pairs well with simple middle names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Payton, Paighton.
Popularity over time
Peyton first appears in US Social Security records in 1957. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 34 different years, starting in 1992. Its best national rank was #42 in 2009, the same year it reached its highest count of 5,318 babies. In 2025, 1,559 babies were named Peyton, and it ranked #199 nationally. That is 60% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #4,464 in 1980, #168 in 2000, #51 in 2010, and #199 in 2025. Of the 88,219 US girls named Peyton since records began, 45% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 27,479 babies.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Peyton ranked highest in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | #73 | 16 |
| Rhode Island | #73 | 11 |
| Connecticut | #75 | 34 |
| Maine | #90 | 12 |
| Michigan | #106 | 73 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Peyton is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 69% of US babies named Peyton were girls and 31% were boys.
Peyton is usually pronounced PAY-tuhn, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with P and ends in “-on”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Payton and Paighton.
Middle names for Peyton
A few middle names that flow with Peyton: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Peyton
Similar names
Landon Boy
LAN-duhn
“long hill” · English
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Brandon Boy
BRAN-duhn
“broom-covered hill” · Old English
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KOHL-tuhn
“from an English place name” · English
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Easton Boy
EES-tuhn
“east town” · English
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Braxton Boy
BRAK-stuhn
“Bracca's town” · Old English
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Preston Boy
PREHS-tuhn
“priest's town” · English
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Kingston Boy
KIHNG-stuhn
“king's town” · English
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Clayton Boy
KLAY-tun
“clay settlement” · Old English
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Paxton Boy
PAKS-tun
“from an English place name” · Old English
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Dalton Boy
DAWL-tun
“valley town” · Old English
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Sutton Unisex
SUH-tuhn
“south town” · English
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Leighton Unisex
LAY-tuhn
“leek enclosure or herb garden” · English
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Lists that include Peyton
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Peyton mean?
Peyton is an English and Old English name that is usually said to mean “Pacca's town”.
What is the origin of the name Peyton?
Peyton has English and Old English roots. Peyton comes from an English surname based on a place name, usually explained as the settlement of a man called Pacca, from Old English tun, meaning town or enclosure.
Is Peyton a popular name?
Yes. Peyton ranked #199 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Peyton a boy or girl name?
Peyton is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 69% of US babies named Peyton were girls and 31% were boys.
How do you pronounce Peyton?
Peyton is usually pronounced PAY-tuhn. 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