Peyton
PAY-tuhn
Peyton is a given name of Old English origin, derived from the surname Payton or Peyton, itself a habitational name from places in Devon and Essex, England bearing the name Payton, meaning “Paega’s settlement” or “estate of Paega.” Paega was an Old
English personal name of uncertain meaning.
The surname transferred into given-name use in the United States during the 20th century.
What the name Peyton means
Peyton became most prominently associated with Peyton Manning, the American football quarterback born in 1976, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NFL history.
Manning won 2 Super Bowls and was named NFL Most Valuable Player a record 5 times. His high profile contributed significantly to the name’s masculine associations in American culture during the 1990s and 2000s.
Despite this masculine association, Peyton began crossing gender lines rapidly in the 2000s, becoming one of the most popular surname-style names for girls.
By 2014, Peyton ranked higher for girls than for boys in SSA records - a complete gender reversal accomplished within roughly 2 decades.
The television series One Tree Hill (2003-2012), featuring a female character named Peyton Sawyer, accelerated this crossover.
By 2022, Peyton ranked in the top 100 for girls and had fallen outside the top 300 for boys in the U.S., illustrating the classic pattern of gender migration among surname-style names.
The name is especially popular in Southern and Midwestern states and carries a sporty, energetic character.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Peyton
Peyton - similar names
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