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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Payson — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Payslie|Payten
English◈ Unisex · 54% boy · 46% girl↑↑ Surging

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Payson

◈

PAY-sun · 2 syllables

Share Payson:
Compare with another name
Boy
#2649
↑↑ Surging
Boy
#2649
Popularity score: 20
↑↑ Surging
Peak
#2535 in 2020
5yr
+141 ranks
Velocity
+141
Birth frequency
1.4 per 100,000 births
Girl
#3934
Popularity score: 16
↓ Fading
Peak
#2699 in 2021
5yr
-1009 ranks
Velocity
-1009
Birth frequency
1.1 per 100,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

BOY
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #2649 · Falling since 2020

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
English boy names
Payson

Popularity score: 20  ·  SSA Rank: #2649

GIRL
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #3934 · Falling since 2020

All US girl names
Top 200 girl names
English girl names
Payson

Popularity score: 16  ·  SSA Rank: #3934

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
92
Higher than 92% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↑↑ Surging
+141 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
70
6 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class
Name DNA
ModernUnisex2-syllableSurname-as-given-namePatronymicCoolContemporaryEnglishStrong
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Paysons

athleticdeterminedentrepreneurialambitiousbusiness-minded
STRONG
High confidence

Payson is an English unisex name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #2649 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↑↑ Surging · +141 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:#2649 · very rare
Payson at a Glance
Meaning:Son of Paige; derived from a surname meaning a young attendant or page. Modern given name use emerged in the 20th century.
Language root:English · Old English surname, possibly patronymic
Peak rank:#2535 in 2020
5yr change:+141 ranks
Sex usage:Boy #2649 · Girl #3934
Notable bearers
Payson McElveen
Professional baseball player
Payson Wolf
American businessperson and entrepreneur
Payson Ackerman
American gymnast and TV personality
Similar Sound
Paxton◈PaxonParsonPoisonTisonArson
Similar Style
Beckett◈Hudson◈CorsonDawson◈Lawson◈Jaxon
Works Well With
Sibling names that pair naturally with Payson
Wren◈Quinn◈Morgan◈Avery◈Riley◈Sage◈River◈Blake◈
You Might Also Like
Beckett◈
English · #166
→ Stable
Hudson◈
English · #22
→ Stable
Corson
Scottish · —
→ Stable
Dawson◈
English · #139
→ Stable
Lawson◈
English · #415
→ Stable
Jaxon
Irish · #96
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Payson illustration
Name Intelligence
Payson · Overview
Summary

Payson is an English unisex name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #2649 in the US in 2024.

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Payson scores 92/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Surging fast
Rank has moved 141 positions in the last year. Exceptional momentum.
Works for any sex
54% boy · 46% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Modern · Strong character
Payson carries a cool, grounded quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Rising very fast
Payson is surging. If the trend continues, it may become significantly more common within 2-3 years.
Domain taken
payson.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
Explore

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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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