Paisley

At a Glance

Meaning

From the town of Paisley, Scotland; Gaelic root meaning 'pasture'

Origin

Scottish (place name, Scottish Gaelic)

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

PAYZ-leeListen

Paisley takes its name from the town of Paisley in Scotland, rooted in the Scottish Gaelic word Pàislig, meaning 'pasture.' You may have come across the claim that it means 'church' or 'cemetery,' tied to a Latin word for basilica — that's not what the record shows; the Gaelic root points to pasture instead. Said PAYZ-lee (/ˈpeɪzli/), it's a place-rooted name that's been given to American babies since at least 1966.

Meaning & Origin of Paisley

Meaning: From the town of Paisley, Scotland; Gaelic root meaning 'pasture'.

Origin: Scottish (place name, Scottish Gaelic).

A common claim: Paisley is widely said to mean 'church' or 'cemetery,' linking the place name to a Latin word for basilica. Actually: Paisley traces to the Scottish Gaelic Pàislig, meaning 'pasture' — not 'church' or 'cemetery.'

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Paisley

Popularity of Paisley

Paisley ranked #61 in 2024, given to 3,542 babies, down from its peak of #45 in 2015 when 5,089 babies received the name.

Names Like Paisley

These names share Paisley’s style, era or origin.

• Isla
• Maisie
• Ailsa
• Cameron
• Catriona
• Duncan

FAQ

What does the name Paisley mean?

From the town of Paisley, Scotland; Gaelic root meaning ‘pasture’. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Paisley?

Paisley is pronounced PAYZ-lee (IPA: /ˈpeɪzli/).

Is Paisley a popular name right now?

Paisley peaked at #45 in 2015 and is ranked #61 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1966–2024.)

Make Paisley Name Art

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