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The short answer
Preston is a masculine name used in English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "From an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning ‘priest town’ (Old English preost and tun)." It ranked #299 for boys in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, from an English surname that was originally derived from a place name meaning ‘priest town’ (Old English preost and tun). The entry lists its usage as English.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Preston ranked #299 for boys in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #299 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Preston in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Preston mean?
Preston means "priest town", according to Behind the Name.
Is Preston a popular name?
Preston ranked #299 for boys in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Preston a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Preston appears in the boys' list; Behind the Name labels it masculine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Preston — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
