Payton
Gender: Mostly Girl
Meaning: Fighting man's estate, warrior's town
Origin: English
Popularity: Ranked #440 in 2025 with 701 babies born.
History: Payton surged in the 2000s-2010s as a unisex name honoring Walter Payton — 'Sweetness' — one of the greatest NFL running backs ever. His grace on the field and generosity off it made him a national hero. The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is the NFL's most prestigious honor. Payton means American football's highest ideals.
Name length: 6 letters
How common is Payton? About 1 in 4,109 babies born in 2025 were named Payton, or roughly 2.2 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Payton
What does the name Payton mean?
Payton means “Fighting man's estate, warrior's town” from English roots.
What is the origin of the name Payton?
Payton has English origin. The traditional meaning is “Fighting man's estate, warrior's town”.
How popular is Payton?
Payton ranked #440 in 2025 — given to 701 babies that year.
When was Payton most popular?
Payton peaked in 2009 with 3,646 babies registered that year.
Is Payton a boy or girl name?
Payton is used for both boys and girls. In the records, about 29% of Paytons are boys and 71% are girls.
Is the name Payton rising or falling in popularity?
Payton has fallen 222 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #218 in 2020 to #440 in 2025.
How long has Payton been recorded?
Payton appears in birth records across 121 years — from 1880 through 2025.