Paisley Girl

Popularity: #66 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: PAYZ-lee //ˈpeɪzli//

Origin: Scottish; English

Meaning: Scottish: church; English: patterned fabric

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Paisley has its roots in the Scottish Gaelic word "pàislig," which refers to a "church" or "cemetery." This term is derived from the name of a town in Scotland, Paisley, which is historically significant due to its association with the Abbey of Paisley, founded in the 12th century. The town itself was named after the nearby River White Cart, which was called "Pàislig" in Gaelic, indicating a geographical connection to the name's origins.

The transition into English occurred as the town gained prominence, with the name being adopted as a surname and later as a given name, particularly in the 20th century. Historically, the name Paisley is linked to various cultural and religious milestones.

The Abbey of Paisley was an important center of the Cistercian order and played a significant role in the religious life of Scotland during the Middle Ages. The abbey's influence extended into the arts and education, contributing to the cultural fabric of the region.

The name also gained recognition through the Paisley pattern, a distinctive textile design that emerged in the 18th century, which has roots in Persian motifs but became widely associated with Scottish textiles, further embedding the name in cultural history. Symbolically, the name Paisley evokes a sense of heritage and connection to Scottish identity, often associated with themes of spirituality and community due to its ecclesiastical origins.

The name has also been embraced in various forms of art and literature, reflecting its enduring significance. While diminutive forms are not as commonly noted, the name's unique sound and historical depth contribute to its resonance in cultural narratives.

Famous people named Paisley

In this section, you will find notable people named Paisley. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Paisley who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Paisley who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Paisley Adams is a singer-songwriter best known for her albums and singles in the country music genre.

Paisley Park is a music studio and complex best known as the home of Prince and the site of many of his recordings.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Paisley, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

PiperPeytonPoppyParkerPaige

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Paisley. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

KinsleyHadleyBaileyRileyAinsleyFinleySophieMiley

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Paisley was first seen in the United States in 1966.

Paisley has ranked as high as #130 nationally, which occurred in 2015, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Ohio, Florida, and Georgia.

In the past 5 years the name Paisley has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Paisley is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Paisley was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Paisley.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 3,513 5 3,508
2024 3,560 6 3,554
2023 3,754 5 3,749
2022 4,056 0 4,056
2021 4,305 6 4,299
2020 4,389 9 4,380
2019 4,287 7 4,280
2018 4,374 8 4,366
2017 4,970 12 4,958
2016 4,888 5 4,883
2015 5,091 0 5,091
2014 4,507 6 4,501
2013 3,614 7 3,607
2012 2,924 0 2,924
2011 1,655 11 1,644
2010 1,328 0 1,328
2009 1,023 0 1,023
2008 700 0 700
2007 491 0 491
2006 327 0 327
2005 228 0 228
2004 183 0 183
2003 99 0 99
2002 109 0 109
2001 100 0 100
2000 89 0 89
1999 59 0 59
1998 54 0 54
1997 50 0 50
1996 56 0 56
1995 69 0 69
1994 83 0 83
1993 93 0 93
1992 81 0 81
1991 58 0 58
1990 51 0 51
1989 39 0 39
1988 34 0 34
1987 28 0 28
1986 23 0 23
1985 10 0 10
1982 8 0 8
1981 7 0 7
1980 7 0 7
1978 16 0 16
1977 10 0 10
1976 5 0 5
1974 6 0 6
1973 6 0 6
1972 6 0 6
1970 8 0 8
1969 8 0 8
1968 7 0 7
1967 5 0 5
1966 5 0 5

Top States for Paisley (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 269
8%
OH 196
6%
FL 189
5%
CA 180
5%
PA 152
4%
NC 145
4%
TN 143
4%
MO 137
4%
GA 134
4%
NY 121
3%
MI 120
3%
IN 115
3%
KY 99
3%
AL 90
3%
IL 86
2%
WA 83
2%
LA 71
2%
VA 70
2%
AZ 67
2%
WI 67
2%
IA 66
2%
OR 65
2%
MN 64
2%
UT 64
2%
OK 63
2%
SC 63
2%
MS 59
2%
KS 51
1%
WV 49
1%
ID 48
1%
CO 46
1%
AR 46
1%
MD 36
1%
NE 30
1%
NJ 29
1%
MT 26
1%
MA 26
1%
NM 25
1%
SD 24
1%
NV 23
1%
CT 17
0%
ND 17
0%
ME 14
0%
NH 13
0%
WY 12
0%
AK 10
0%
VT 7
0%
RI 6
0%