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Home › Baby Names Directory › Preston

Preston

♀ Girl

Pronounced PRESS-tun /ˈprɛs.tən/High

Meaning: From an English surname and place name — from Old English preost, 'a priest', plus tun, 'a settlement'; 'the priest's town'; used for both sexes; here for girlsLow

In 30 seconds: The priest's town; the priest's estate: Preston is an English surname. Crisp, modern, and warm. Used for both sexes (here for girls; said 'PRESS-tun').
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Origin LowEnglish
MeaningFrom an English surname and place name — from Old English preost, 'a priest', plus tun, 'a settlement'; 'the priest's town'; used for both sexes; here for girls
U.S. rank (2024)#6839 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births17 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2000
Total births (all-time)≈ 788

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201619162024

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

Preston comes from an English surname and place name — from Old English preost, 'a priest', plus tun, 'a settlement' — 'the priest's town'. Long a boys' name, it now appears for girls too. A crisp, modern name, used for both sexes, here for girls (slug distinguished; nickname Pres).

In the U.S. it registers thinly for girls. Rare for girls, the-priest's-town at the root, and modern.

Did you know? Preston means 'the priest's town' (Old English preost, 'a priest', plus tun, 'a settlement') — a crisp, modern surname-name, used for both sexes (here for girls; said 'PRESS-tun').
Overall data confidence 42%
References — Preston — surname/place-name

Variations

PrestynPrestan

Nicknames

Pres

Famous Bearers

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If you like Preston…

Preslee— a kin Pres- girls' name
Peyton— a sound-neighbor -ton surname unisex girls' name
Emerson— a fellow surname unisex girls' name
Ellison— another surname unisex girls' name

Explore names like Preston

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Preston mean?

Preston is an English surname — 'the priest's town; the priest's estate'.

How do you pronounce Preston?

It's said PRESS-tun /ˈprɛs.tən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Preston a boy or girl name?

Preston is used for both sexes (more often boys'); this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Preston?

Preston is a rare name for girls in the U.S.

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