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Taylor

♀ Girl

Pronounced TAY-lor /ˈteɪ.lər/High

Meaning: Occupational surname from Old French tailleur meaning one who cuts cloth; from tailler to cut, from Latin taliareHigh

In 30 seconds: Taylor is a sharp Old French occupational surname meaning 'tailor' that became one of America's defining unisex names of the 1990s — and has never fully left the spotlight, especially for girls.
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Origin HighOld French, English
MeaningOccupational surname from Old French tailleur meaning one who cuts cloth; from tailler to cut, from Latin taliare
U.S. rank (2025)#403 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births772 girls (0.04% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1993
Total births (all-time)≈ 330,128

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199319512025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Taylor comes from the Old French tailleur (cutter of cloth), from tailler (to cut), ultimately from Latin taliare. As a surname it was one of England's most common occupational names in the medieval period.

As a given name, Taylor rose sharply in the United States from the 1980s onward, becoming hugely popular for girls in the 1990s and early 2000s. It remains a recognizable and well-loved name.

Did you know? Taylor Swift is the most famous bearer of this name today, and her global dominance has kept the name firmly in cultural conversation — while also meaning a generation of Taylors grew up alongside her.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Taylor — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

TaylerTailor

Nicknames

Tay

Famous Bearers

  • ★Taylor Swift (1989–present)
    American singer-songwriter and one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

If you like Taylor…

Riley— shares the Irish-to-American surname-name arc and unisex-to-feminine shift
Morgan— fellow occupational-heritage surname used for both sexes with a similar 90s peak
Madison— shares the 1990s American girl-name boom and surname-style feel
Peyton— parallel -ton surname-name with the same sporty, modern unisex energy

Frequently Asked

What does the name Taylor mean?

Taylor is an occupational surname meaning one who cuts cloth, from Old French tailleur.

How do you pronounce Taylor?

It is said TAY-lor /ˈteɪ.lər/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Taylor a girl's name or unisex?

Taylor is genuinely unisex but skews strongly feminine in current U.S. usage.

Did Taylor Swift affect the name's popularity?

Taylor was already popular before Swift's fame; her stardom has helped sustain the name's visibility well into the 2020s.