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Home › Baby Names Directory › Paisley

Paisley

♂ Boy

Pronounced PAYZ-lee /ˈpeɪz.li/Medium

Meaning: From the Scottish town of Paisley, which gave its name to the swirling teardrop textile pattern; also a surname. Used here for a boy, though it is strongly a girl's name today, which we note.Low

In 30 seconds: A pattern-and-place name: Paisley is the swirling teardrop design and a Scottish town (said 'PAYZ-lee'). Strongly a girl's name — we note the lean.
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Origin MediumScottish
MeaningFrom the Scottish town of Paisley, which gave its name to the swirling teardrop textile pattern; also a surname. Used here for a boy, though it is strongly a girl's name today, which we note.
U.S. rank (2025)#13390 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2017
Total births (all-time)≈ 87

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201720112025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Paisley comes from the Scottish town whose weavers made the swirling teardrop pattern world-famous. As a given name it is now overwhelmingly a girl's name; used here for a boy, which we note. (said 'PAYZ-lee').

For boys it appears only very rarely in the U.S., against heavy girls' use. Very rare for boys, patterned, and lyrical.

Did you know? Paisley is a Scottish town that lent its name to the famous swirling teardrop textile pattern; as a first name it's strongly a girl's today, which we note (said 'PAYZ-lee').
Overall data confidence 40%
References — Paisley — Scottish town/pattern; cross-sex, strongly girl

Variations

PaisleePaizleyPaislee

Nicknames

PaisLee

Famous Bearers

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Paisley mean?

Paisley is a Scottish town behind the famous swirling teardrop pattern; as a name it's strongly a girl's, which we note.

How do you pronounce Paisley?

It's said PAYZ-lee /ˈpeɪz.li/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Paisley a boy or girl name?

Paisley is used here as a boy's name, though it's strongly a girl's — we note the lean.

How popular is Paisley?

Paisley is very rare for boys in the U.S. and far more common for girls.

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