Payson

Payson - A very unique male name

Payson appeared on the charts for the first time in 1993 on position #2996. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Payson and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Payson? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Payson. The baby boy name Payson was given to 9 baby boys in 2025, ranking #3268 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 162,920 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Payson peaked in popularity 17 years ago in 2009 on position 2008.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Payson, 1-5?

Payson is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Payson is currently topping the baby name charts in Arizona at position #704 - and is the least popular in Arizona at position #704.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Payson is where you live.

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Payson origin and meaning

English — transferred surname and place name

A surname and place name; as a surname it derives from a medieval personal name (Paie/Pay) plus 'son'

Payson is an English surname and the name of towns in Utah and Arizona. As a boy's first name it has appeared in tiny numbers since 1993, never exceeding 31 births in a year (2009). Its American use is a quiet surname transfer with no strong fashion wave behind it.

Origin uncertain

Payson is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Payson, pop culture references for the name Payson and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Payson

We've found the following names that sound similar to Payson, sorted by popularity.

Paxson / Paxon / Pacen /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Payson

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Payson a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Payson?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

PAY-sun · /ˈpeɪsən/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Paysen — e-spelling, rarely recorded.

Famous bearers

None yet — the name first appears in the data in 1993, and its oldest bearers are still young.

Style

SurnamePlace name

Why parents choose it

Payson is a gentle, preppy surname choice that has never caught on widely — which is its charm for parents wanting something familiar-sounding but rare. It has drifted downward for years.

Worth knowing

• Often misheard as Payton or Paxton, both far better known.