Paxton
Boy name · #338 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Paxton? In official American birth records, Paxton has been tracked continuously since 1921, giving it 104 years of documented American history.
Paxton ranks #338 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 988 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #229, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,822 boys born in 2025 was named Paxton.
Babies named Paxton per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 104-year story
Paxton first appears in the Social Security records in 1921, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2016, when 1,993 boys were named Paxton — good for #203 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Paxton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Paxton in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Paxton is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Paxton is most common
Geography matters for names, and Paxton is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Paxton is most common in HI (3.4 per 1,000), KY (1.8 per 1,000), MS (1.5 per 1,000), OK (1.4 per 1,000), ID (1.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.7 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Paxton is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Paxton
Statistically, parents drawn to Paxton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Daxton, Jaxton, Princeton, Boston, and Remington.
DaxtonJaxtonPrincetonBostonRemingtonLaytonKoltonBraxton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Paxton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 988 | #338 |
| 2024 | 1,170 | #288 |
| 2023 | 1,357 | #257 |
| 2022 | 1,350 | #257 |
| 2021 | 1,392 | #255 |
| 2020 | 1,301 | #262 |
| 2019 | 1,450 | #252 |
| 2018 | 1,694 | #221 |
| 2017 | 1,909 | #207 |
| 2016 | 1,993 | #203 |
| 2015 | 1,677 | #229 |
| 2014 | 1,432 | #260 |
| 2013 | 1,356 | #262 |
| 2012 | 1,496 | #242 |
| 2011 | 1,287 | #272 |
| 2010 | 1,110 | #296 |
| 2009 | 979 | #327 |
| 2008 | 697 | #419 |
| 2007 | 456 | #565 |
| 2006 | 267 | #776 |
| 2005 | 211 | #870 |
| 2004 | 197 | #878 |
| 2003 | 174 | #942 |
| 2002 | 197 | #842 |
| 2001 | 162 | #950 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Paxton?
In official American birth records, the name Paxton first appeared in 1921 (over 104 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 104 years.
Is Paxton a popular boy name?
Paxton ranked #338 among boys in 2025 with 988 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #229.
When was the name Paxton most popular?
Paxton peaked in 2016, when 1,993 American boys received the name (ranked #203 that year). Since 2016 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Paxton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,822 newborn American boys was named Paxton. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.