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The short answer
Paisley is a feminine English name from a Scots surname, originally the name of a town near Glasgow, possibly ultimately derived from Latin basilica ("church"). Behind the Name notes the town's name also gave rise to the word for the swirling fabric pattern. It is pronounced PAYZ-lee. In the United States it ranked #67 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Paisley as "from a Scots surname, originally from the name of a town near Glasgow, maybe ultimately derived from Latin basilica 'church'", noting the word maybe qualifier as uncertain. The entry adds that this is also the word for the type of swirling pattern commonly found on fabrics, itself named after the same town.
Editorial confidence: uncertain
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Latin | basilica | church |
Popularity
Paisley ranked #67 for girls in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #67 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: Paislee
Related names: None documented.
What the name feels like
Paisley reads as a soft, modern place-name choice with a distinctive textile association that gives it a decorative, pattern-like feel beyond most surname names.
Style tags: place name, modern, textile association, two syllables
Editorial interpretation: This style read is editorial judgment, not linguistic fact. Behind the Name itself flags the basilica etymology as uncertain ("maybe ultimately derived from").
If you like this name
Names with a similar modern, place-name feel to Paisley.
Similar by style
Similar by sound
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Paisley mean?
Paisley comes from a Scots surname originally from a town near Glasgow, which Behind the Name says may ultimately derive from Latin basilica, meaning "church" — though the entry presents that link as uncertain.
Is Paisley named after the fabric pattern?
The name and the fabric pattern share a source: both come from the town of Paisley near Glasgow, which lent its name to the swirling pattern as well as to the surname the given name is based on.
Is Paisley a popular name?
Yes. Paisley ranked #67 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Paisley — supports etymology, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
