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Peyton

♂ Boy

Pronounced PAY-tun /ˈpeɪ.tən/High

Meaning: Fighting man's estate; from Old English paega (fighting man, warrior) + tun (settlement, estate)Medium

In 30 seconds: An Old English place-name surname meaning 'warrior's settlement,' strongly associated with Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. A classic unisex name that is popular for both boys and girls.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningFighting man's estate; from Old English paega (fighting man, warrior) + tun (settlement, estate)

U.S. rank (2025)#684 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births398 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2007

Total births (all-time)≈ 52,380

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Peyton is an Old English place-name surname from paega (fighting man) and tun (settlement, estate). It became a surname and then a given name in North America. The name's meaning is debated; some sources connect Peyton to Payton, from the personal name Pæga.

Peyton entered the U.S. boys' charts in the 1990s alongside its association with Peyton Manning. It has also crossed to girls' charts. It ranked #658 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Peyton Manning (born 1976) is considered one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time — a two-time Super Bowl champion who redefined the quarterback position with his mastery of pre-snap reads and audibles.

Overall data confidence 84%

Behind the Name — Peyton — Old English etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

PaytonPaeton

Nicknames

Pay

Famous Bearers

★Peyton Manning (1976–present)
American NFL quarterback, two-time Super Bowl champion, and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (class of 2021).

If you like Peyton…

Layton— two-syllable -ton surname name in the same category

Braxton— two-syllable -ton surname name with the same confident feel

Hayden— two-syllable Old English surname name in the same popular boys' tier

Daxton— modern -ton ending name in the same sound family

Waylon— two-syllable -on ending name with the same American frontier feel

Explore names like Peyton

By themeenglish unisex two-syllable place-name surname-style football

By meaningWarrior

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Peyton mean?

Peyton means 'warrior's settlement' or 'fighting man's estate,' from Old English paega (warrior) and tun (settlement).

How do you pronounce Peyton?

It's said PAY-tun — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Peyton a boy or girl name?

Peyton is a well-established unisex name used for both boys and girls.

How popular is Peyton?

Peyton ranked #658 for U.S. boys in 2024.