Preston
Boy name · #299 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Preston? In official American birth records, Preston has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 1,131 baby boys were named Preston, placing it at #299 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #169, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,592 boys born in 2025 was named Preston.
The 145-year story
Preston first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 47 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2007, when 3,797 boys were named Preston — good for #114 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 Preston per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Preston against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Preston in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Preston 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 Preston is most common
Geography matters for names, and Preston is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Preston is most common in MS (2.2 per 1,000), WV (1.8 per 1,000), LA (1.8 per 1,000), AL (1.5 per 1,000), ID (1.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.8 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Preston is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Preston
Statistically, parents drawn to Preston tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Peyton, Clayton, Ashton, Keaton, and Trenton.
PeytonClaytonAshtonKeatonTrentonDaytonKoltonTristan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Preston | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,131 | #299 |
| 2024 | 1,048 | #330 |
| 2023 | 1,232 | #274 |
| 2022 | 1,354 | #255 |
| 2021 | 1,473 | #241 |
| 2020 | 1,647 | #228 |
| 2019 | 1,748 | #217 |
| 2018 | 1,966 | #205 |
| 2017 | 2,073 | #190 |
| 2016 | 2,313 | #172 |
| 2015 | 2,456 | #169 |
| 2014 | 2,733 | #148 |
| 2013 | 2,670 | #148 |
| 2012 | 2,945 | #130 |
| 2011 | 3,037 | #136 |
| 2010 | 3,108 | #131 |
| 2009 | 3,465 | #120 |
| 2008 | 3,461 | #124 |
| 2007 | 3,797 | #114 |
| 2006 | 3,719 | #114 |
| 2005 | 2,728 | #146 |
| 2004 | 2,646 | #152 |
| 2003 | 2,640 | #154 |
| 2002 | 2,515 | #155 |
| 2001 | 2,618 | #152 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Preston?
In official American birth records, the name Preston first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 47 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Preston a popular boy name?
Preston ranked #299 among boys in 2025 with 1,131 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #169.
When was the name Preston most popular?
Preston peaked in 2007, when 3,797 American boys received the name (ranked #114 that year). Since 2007 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Preston?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,592 newborn American boys was named Preston. 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.