Paisley

Paisley for girls#67 US

Deriving from a Scottish surname and town near Glasglow, Paisley means "church" or "cemetery." It has been given to a tiny handful of girls each year since the 1960s, but it wasn't until the late 2000s that it had any significant usage. Then, between 2010 and 2015, the number of girls named Paisley quadrupled, and it entered the US Top 50.

So what did make Paisley so popular? Perhaps parents drew inspiration from the American country singer, Brad Paisley, who has dueted with Dolly. Maybe the 2009 appearance of 'Peppermint Paisley' on the controversial TV show "Toddlers and Tiaras" turned some heads?

Or perhaps it simply emerged as a fresh spin on both Ashley and Paige, the once popular choices that were falling rapidly out of style?

However it made its way to the charts, Paisley remains in the US Top 100 and is given to over 3500 girls each year. Athlete Jennie Finch, Guns N' Roses musician Richard Fortus, and actress Gabrielle Anwar are among those who have chosen Paisley for their daughters.

Nameberry users tend not to share this love of Paisley and it ranks on the fringes of the Nameberry Top 1000. For more 'Berry-style' choices, you could try Maisie, Daisy, Astrid, Romy, Blair or Marlowe.

Paisley for boys#13390 US

Taken from a Scottish town, a Scots surname, and the name of an intricately patterned fabric, Paisley means "church" or "cemetery." It ranks highly for girls and is in US Top 100. It may feel a little swirly to ever catch on for boys, but with gentle names like Rowan, Teddy, Casey, Emery, and Trace rising in the US, and Hadley, Oakley, McKenzie, and Presley ranking in the UK, Paisley might one day be considered for any gender. Paisley Currah, a political scientist, professor, author and advocate for transgender rights, is a notable bearer of the name.