Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Payson isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1917. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Payson through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,612
- 1,443 boys · 1,169 girls
- Most popular year
- 2012
- 171 babies
- 2025
- 83
- #3,335 for girls · #3,292 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −6%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 50% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 47 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,335 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 13.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 116 in 2011. It also appeared in 36 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Arizona had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,940 as a first name in 2020; 1,197 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Payson’s family of names
The ring: spellings.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Payson, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Britton
Britton is a masculine given name.
65% boys · 35% girls
Charleston
“from the free man's town”
40% boys · 60% girls
Kaylen
“a mighty warrior”
29% boys · 71% girls
Ellington
“eel” · “belonging to”
34% boys · 66% girls
An
“one who is peaceful”
42% boys · 58% girls
Berlin
“from the borderline”
26% boys · 74% girls
Tennyson
“son of Dennis”
61% boys · 39% girls
Aly
“the son of a noble” · “the great one; one who is exalted”
26% boys · 74% girls