Payson
Payson is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Son of Pax (peace) or son of the father.
Origin and history
Payson is an English surname turned given name, traditionally meaning 'son of Pax' or 'son of the peace'. While historically rare, it has seen a gentle rise in modern U.S. usage as part of the surname-as-first-name trend. Today, it remains an uncommon, modern option for boys in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
1,443 babies in the United States have been named Payson since 1880. It ranks #3282 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1654.
States where it is most popular
- AZ (44.8 %)
- UT (22.1 %)
- TX (13.8 %)
- ID (6.6 %)
- CA (3.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 5 |
| 1920-1930 | 10 |
| 1930-1940 | 7 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 0 |
| 1960-1970 | 5 |
| 1970-1980 | 0 |
| 1980-1990 | 5 |
| 1990-2000 | 124 |
| 2000-2010 | 401 |
| 2010-2019 | 613 |
| 2020-2029 | 273 |
Fun facts
- The surname Payson originally developed in medieval England as a patronymic name derived from Pax or Pake.
- Payson is also a well-known town in Arizona, named after Senator Louis E. Payson in the late 19th century.