Taylor Unisex

Popularity: #322 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TAY-lor //ˈteɪlər//

Origin: English; French

Meaning: English: tailor; French: to cut

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Taylor originates from the Old French word "tailleur," meaning "to cut," which itself derives from the Latin "taliare," meaning "to cut or to shear." This term referred to a tailor, a profession that became significant in medieval society. The name entered the English language after the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, where it began as a surname for individuals who worked as tailors.

Over time, it transitioned from a surname to a given name, particularly in the 19th century, when occupational surnames became more common as first names in English-speaking cultures. Historically, the name Taylor has been borne by notable figures, including Taylor of Norwich, a 14th-century English saint, and various influential individuals in politics and the arts.

The name also appears in literary works, such as the writings of William Shakespeare, who used the term "tailor" in his plays, reflecting the profession's relevance in society. The name gained further recognition through figures like Zachary Taylor, the 12th President of the United States, who served in the mid-19th century, thereby embedding the name within American history.

Culturally, the name Taylor has been associated with craftsmanship and skill, reflecting the importance of tailoring in historical contexts. It has also been linked to themes of creativity and artistry, as tailors often played a role in the fashion and design of clothing.

The name's adaptability has allowed it to endure through generations, and it has various diminutive forms, such as Tay, which have emerged in different contexts. Overall, Taylor encapsulates a rich history tied to profession, societal roles, and cultural significance.

Famous people named Taylor

In this section, you will find notable people named Taylor. 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 Taylor who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Taylor 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.

Taylor Swift is a singer-songwriter best known for Fearless, 1989, and Folklore.

Taylor Lautner is an actor best known for the Twilight series, Sharkboy and Lavagirl, and Scream Queens.

Taylor Momsen is an actress and musician best known for Gossip Girl, The Grinch, and her band The Pretty Reckless.

Taylor Hicks is a singer and songwriter best known for winning American Idol and his album Taylor Hicks.

Taylor Sheridan is a screenwriter and director best known for Sicario, Hell or High Water, and Yellowstone.

Fictional characters named Taylor

The following list of fictional characters named Taylor is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Taylor is a fictional character from the TV series 13 Reasons Why. They are a student at Liberty High School and a key figure in the narrative surrounding the events leading to Hannah Baker's death.

Taylor is a fictional character from the video game series The Last of Us. He is a member of the Fireflies, a revolutionary militia group fighting against the oppressive military regime in a post-apocalyptic world.

Sibling suggestions

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

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Taylor. 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.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Taylor was first seen in the United States in 1951.

Taylor has ranked as high as #27 nationally, which occurred in 1993, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, and New York.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Taylor 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 Taylor was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Taylor (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
CA 85
11%
TX 82
10%
FL 56
7%
GA 44
5%
PA 43
5%
NY 39
5%
NC 37
5%
MS 33
4%
TN 29
4%
MO 29
4%
VA 26
3%
OH 21
3%
IL 20
2%
WA 18
2%
WI 18
2%

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 Taylor.

YearBirths
2024877
20231,192
20221,371
20211,544
20201,747
20192,048
20182,499
20172,705
20163,280
20153,754
20143,818
20134,145
20124,870
20115,193
20105,900
20097,590
20088,344
20077,965
20068,565
20058,676
20049,303
200310,314
200211,468
200113,693
200015,080
199916,906
199818,576
199719,504
199619,153
199520,426
199420,734
199321,271
199214,952
199110,254
19907,262
19894,069
19882,801
19871,705
19861,215
19851,052
1984869
1983686
1982604
1981388
1980235
1979149
1978123
1977122
197668
197537
197439
197327
197220
197122
197019
196918
19689
196714
196611
196414
19635
19626
19617
196011
19586
19578
19566
19545
19517