Payton
Boy name · #1564 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Payton? In official American birth records, Payton has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Payton ranks #1564 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 109 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #687, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 16,514 boys born in 2025 was named Payton.
The 145-year story
Payton first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2000, when 1,581 boys were named Payton — good for #219 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.
Babies named Payton per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Payton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Payton in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Payton is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Payton will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Payton is most common
State-level data for Payton is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Payton
Statistically, parents drawn to Payton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Peyton, Dayton, Triston, Trenton, and Kelton.
PeytonDaytonTristonTrentonKeltonJaylonSavionKeaton
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Payton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 109 | #1564 |
| 2024 | 117 | #1517 |
| 2023 | 120 | #1489 |
| 2022 | 144 | #1308 |
| 2021 | 154 | #1240 |
| 2020 | 176 | #1119 |
| 2019 | 179 | #1102 |
| 2018 | 237 | #907 |
| 2017 | 288 | #796 |
| 2016 | 281 | #816 |
| 2015 | 365 | #687 |
| 2014 | 410 | #644 |
| 2013 | 510 | #521 |
| 2012 | 598 | #455 |
| 2011 | 720 | #395 |
| 2010 | 891 | #345 |
| 2009 | 972 | #328 |
| 2008 | 1,240 | #276 |
| 2007 | 1,231 | #279 |
| 2006 | 1,291 | #269 |
| 2005 | 1,429 | #238 |
| 2004 | 1,396 | #239 |
| 2003 | 1,268 | #261 |
| 2002 | 1,273 | #256 |
| 2001 | 1,315 | #255 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Payton?
In official American birth records, the name Payton first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Payton a popular boy name?
Payton ranked #1564 among boys in 2025 with 109 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #687.
When was the name Payton most popular?
Payton peaked in 2000, when 1,581 American boys received the name (ranked #219 that year). Since 2000 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Payton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 16,514 newborn American boys was named Payton. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.