
Origin, Meaning, And History Of Peyton
With Irish and English origins, the name Peyton was originally a surname before becoming popular as a given name. As a surname, it meant ‘Poega’s town.’ The given name Peyton means ‘fighting man’s estate’ and is a variant of Patrick according to its Irish origins. The name evokes images of medieval English warriors defending their territory. According to one theory, the masculine name Peyton, with its Irish roots, means ‘warrior’s town.’ In a more modern context, the name Peyton and its closest variant Payton are fashionable choices for both boys and girls. Additionally, the name continues to be used as a surname.
Peyton is pronounced “PAY-tən” and comes with several nicknames such as Pey, Pey-Pey, Peytato, Peyr, Peyt, Payne, and many more. The name exists in two variants – Peyton and Payton.
The name Peyton has survived the ages and has only grown in popularity over the years, thanks to its portrayal in pop culture. The 1957 American movie Peyton Place and the 1964 ABC TV series of the same name proved to be the beginning of the name’s continued popularity through the ages. In the 992 film, The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, the name was used for a female character which was rare at the time. This is believed to have encouraged people to name girls Peyton as well.
William Styron’s heroine Peyton Loftis in his 1951 novel ‘Lie Down in Darkness’ further popularized the name. Peyton Driscoll is a medical examiner on the hit TV show CSI: NY, and Peyton Sawyer is an iconic character in the American drama series ‘One Tree Hill.’
The unisex name Peyton made its entry into the top 1,000 baby names for boys and girls in 1989 and 1992, respectively. It peaked at number 130 in 2008 and has since been on the decline. However, it has continued to flourish as a popular girl’s name, staying in the top 100 since 2018.
How To Pronounce Peyton?
Famous People With The Name Peyton
- Peyton ManningAmerican former football quarterback who played in the NFL for 18 seasons.
- Peyton Robert Siva JrAmerican professional basketball player for the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League
- Peyton RandolphAmerican politician and planter who was a Founding Father of the United States
- Peyton ReedAmerican film director, known for directing Ant Man and its sequels
- Peyton Derek HillisA former American football running back who played in the NFL for the Denver Broncos and the Cleveland Browns
Peyton On The Popularity Chart
Peyton’s popularity took off in the 90s and peaked in 2009. Take a look at the following graphs to know more.
Popularity Over Time
With hardly any takers in the 80s, the name caught up in popularity in the 90s. It peaked at 5316 babies per million in 2009, gradually declining to 2682 in 2021.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name Peyton fared poorly in the initial years on the ranking chart. However, the name’s rank has been on a rise since, achieving its highest rank of 42 in 2009.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Peyton
Peyton has a unique sound and if you are looking for similar sounding names, here are some options.
Names With Similar Meaning As Peyton
Do you want to explore more names that share the same meaning as Peyton? Find them here.
Name Numerology For Peyton


