What Does the Name Peyton Mean?
Peyton derives from an Old English place name combining a personal name, Paega, with 'tun,' meaning settlement or estate — together, 'Paega's estate.' It belongs to the same category of English place-name surnames as Addison and Kennedy.
The Origin & History of Peyton
As a surname, Peyton has English roots going back centuries. Its use as a first name grew through the 20th century, initially more common for boys, before shifting strongly toward girls in the US from the 1990s onward.
Popularity & Modern Use
Peyton has been consistently popular as a girls' name in the US since the 1990s, part of the wave of surname-style names — alongside Addison, Madison, and Avery — that reshaped American girls' naming trends.
Personality & Associations
Peyton tends to feel athletic, confident, and unpretentious, helped in part by its association with a famous football-playing namesake, even though that bearer is male.
Famous People Named Peyton
NFL quarterback Peyton Manning is the name's most widely recognized bearer, a two-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer. Actress Peyton List, known for Cobra Kai and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, is a notable female namesake.
Nicknames & Variations
Payton is an equally common alternate spelling. Pey is an occasional short form.