Paisley
PAYZ-lee /ˈpeɪz.li/
Meaning of Paisley
Paisley is a town in Renfrewshire, Scotland, whose name derives either from Old English pasaig ('passageway') or a reduced form of Latin basilica ('church'). The distinctive teardrop-patterned fabric associated with the town gave the word worldwide recognition. Paisley entered American baby-name culture in the 2010s as part of the broader place-name trend.
Current popularity of Paisley
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #39 |
Notable bearers of Paisley
Paisley, Scotland (centre of the global textile trade); Bob Paisley (Liverpool FC manager, 1974–1983).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Paisley — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31