Paisley Girl
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.
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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Paisley was first seen in the United States in 1966.
Paisley has ranked as high as #127 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.
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. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 269 | |
| OH | 196 | |
| FL | 189 | |
| CA | 180 | |
| PA | 152 | |
| NC | 145 | |
| TN | 143 | |
| MO | 137 | |
| GA | 134 | |
| NY | 121 | |
| IN | 115 | |
| KY | 99 | |
| AL | 90 | |
| IL | 86 | |
| WA | 83 |
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 | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 3,542 |
| 2023 | 3,743 |
| 2022 | 4,048 |
| 2021 | 4,295 |
| 2020 | 4,377 |
| 2019 | 4,277 |
| 2018 | 4,365 |
| 2017 | 4,957 |
| 2016 | 4,882 |
| 2015 | 5,089 |
| 2014 | 4,501 |
| 2013 | 3,605 |
| 2012 | 2,923 |
| 2011 | 1,644 |
| 2010 | 1,328 |
| 2009 | 1,023 |
| 2008 | 700 |
| 2007 | 491 |
| 2006 | 327 |
| 2005 | 228 |
| 2004 | 183 |
| 2003 | 99 |
| 2002 | 109 |
| 2001 | 100 |
| 2000 | 89 |
| 1999 | 59 |
| 1998 | 54 |
| 1997 | 50 |
| 1996 | 56 |
| 1995 | 69 |
| 1994 | 83 |
| 1993 | 93 |
| 1992 | 81 |
| 1991 | 58 |
| 1990 | 51 |
| 1989 | 39 |
| 1988 | 34 |
| 1987 | 28 |
| 1986 | 23 |
| 1985 | 10 |
| 1982 | 8 |
| 1981 | 7 |
| 1980 | 7 |
| 1978 | 16 |
| 1977 | 10 |
| 1976 | 5 |
| 1974 | 6 |
| 1973 | 6 |
| 1972 | 6 |
| 1970 | 8 |
| 1969 | 8 |
| 1968 | 7 |
| 1967 | 5 |
| 1966 | 5 |