Is Preston a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Preston is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Preston?

It’s currently ranked #309 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

How do you pronounce Preston?

PRES-tun · IPA: //ˈprɛstən//

Preston Boy

Popularity: #309 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationPRES-tun / /ˈprɛstən/

English; Old English

Meaning

English: priest's town; Old English: from the priest's estate

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Preston originated as a surname in England, derived from various locations named Preston. It was commonly used to denote someone who lived near a priest's estate or a town associated with a priest. The name gained popularity as a given name in the 19th century. It has been used in various cultural contexts, particularly in English-speaking countries.

Trend Summary

Preston has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, peaking in the early 2000s.

Variants

Pres
Prestonian

International Variants

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Famous people named Preston

Preston Brooks was an American politician known for his role in the U.S. Congress during the 19th century.

Preston Sturges was an influential American screenwriter and director, recognized for his contributions to classic Hollywood comedies.

Preston Manning is a Canadian politician and founder of the Reform Party, known for his impact on Canadian politics.

Preston North End is a professional football club based in Preston, England, known for its historical significance in English football.

Fictional characters named Preston

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Sibling Suggestions

Parker Logan Carter Hunter Grayson Mason

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Preston was first seen in the United States in 1880. Preston has ranked as high as #200 nationally, which occurred in 2007, and has been most popular in Texas, California, North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia. In the past 5 years the name Preston has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Preston (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	126	13%
FL	78	8%
CA	77	8%
NC	49	5%
NY	47	5%
OH	43	4%
MI	40	4%
PA	39	4%
GA	38	4%
TN	34	3%
VA	34	3%
SC	31	3%
LA	30	3%
IN	29	3%
MO	27	3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	47
1881	36
1882	49
1883	52
1884	49
1885	48
1886	36
1887	44
1888	58
1889	39
1890	49
1891	51
1892	49
1893	46
1894	66
1895	58
1896	53
1897	37
1898	53
1899	52
1900	78
1901	78
1902	62
1903	76
1904	67
1905	82
1906	61
1907	71
1908	88
1909	76
1910	112
1911	128
1912	206
1913	218
1914	319
1915	388
1916	418
1917	413
1918	417
1919	430
1920	482
1921	448
1922	467
1923	478
1924	414
1925	426
1926	416
1927	375
1928	381
1929	348
1930	379
1931	333
1932	352
1933	317
1934	357
1935	324
1936	334
1937	360
1938	332
1939	353
1940	381
1941	395
1942	447
1943	448
1944	408
1945	450
1946	452
1947	525
1948	461
1949	535
1950	535
1951	519
1952	557
1953	516
1954	484
1955	524
1956	549
1957	516
1958	479
1959	485
1960	478
1961	451
1962	484
1963	476
1964	453
1965	456
1966	520
1967	460
1968	498
1969	507
1970	522
1971	540
1972	568
1973	484
1974	482
1975	450
1976	567
1977	583
1978	597
1979	690
1980	763
1981	744
1982	807
1983	819
1984	904
1985	978
1986	1,121
1987	1,278
1988	1,352
1989	1,470
1990	1,527
1991	1,426
1992	1,528
1993	1,545
1994	1,606
1995	1,715
1996	1,672
1997	1,889
1998	1,891
1999	2,291
2000	2,743
2001	2,618
2002	2,515
2003	2,640
2004	2,646
2005	2,728
2006	3,719
2007	3,796
2008	3,461
2009	3,463
2010	3,107
2011	3,036
2012	2,944
2013	2,668
2014	2,733
2015	2,455
2016	2,313
2017	2,073
2018	1,966
2019	1,748
2020	1,646
2021	1,472
2022	1,353
2023	1,230
2024	1,045