Payton is a unique and distinctive given name of English origin. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon personal name "Peithwine," which was composed of two elements: "peith" meaning "strife" or "contest," and "win" meaning "friend." Therefore, Payton's original meaning could be interpreted as "friend in strife" or "friend in contest."
The name Payton first appeared during the Middle Ages in England. It was a popular given name among the Anglo-Saxon people before the Norman Conquest in 1066. After this period, the name became less common but still continued to be used occasionally.
Over time, Payton evolved and has taken on various spelling variations throughout its history. Some of these variants include Peyton, Peiton, Paiton, Payten, and Paytin. These different spellings may have been influenced by factors such as regional dialects, transliteration errors, or simply personal preference.
In recent years, Payton has experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly among parents seeking unique and memorable names for their children. Today, it is often chosen as a given name for boys, but historically, it has also been used as a girl's name due to its unisex nature.
Overall, the name Payton carries an intriguing historical background and an appealing meaning that makes it an attractive choice for parents looking for distinctive names with roots in English history. Its unique sound and unisex nature contribute to its enduring appeal across generations.
The name Payton has had a fascinating journey in popularity over the past century and a half in the United States.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Payton was quite uncommon, with fewer than ten babies given this name each year. The highest number of births during this period was nine in 1912.
However, beginning in the 1940s, there was a gradual increase in the popularity of the name Payton. In 1946, there were 22 births, marking a significant jump from previous years. This trend continued throughout the 1950s and 1960s, with the number of births typically ranging between ten and twenty each year.
The real surge in popularity for Payton came in the 1970s. In 1978, there were a remarkable 32 births, indicating that more parents were choosing this name for their children. This figure rose to 43 in 1984, 90 in 1986, and 132 in 1990.
The 1990s saw Payton's popularity skyrocket. Between 1990 and 2000, the number of births increased from 132 to a peak of 1581. This decade marked a turning point for the name, establishing it as a popular choice among parents.
The new millennium saw Payton's popularity remain high but begin to decline slightly. Between 2000 and 2010, there were an average of about 946 births per year. However, from 2011 onwards, the number of births began to decrease more significantly, dropping below 500 by 2013.
In recent years, Payton has continued to be a popular name but has settled into a consistent range rather than experiencing dramatic peaks and valleys in popularity. Between 2018 and 2022, there were approximately 146 births per year on average.
In total, from 1880 to 2022, there have been 24,506 babies named Payton born in the United States. This name has truly stood the test of time, experiencing ebbs and flows in popularity but ultimately maintaining a consistent presence over the past century and a half.