Naylor
An English surname derived from the Old English words "cnoll" and "deru" combined, meaning "dweller by the hill deer pasture."
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Naylor. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Naylor today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Naylor births was 1916 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Naylor. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Naylor with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Naylor. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1916
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1916 SSA rank
#4,311
Tracked since 1916
Popularity
Naylor: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Naylor by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Naylor during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Naylor
The name Naylor has its origins in Old English, tracing back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the word "nayl," which means "nailsmith" or someone who makes nails. This occupation-based surname was likely given to individuals who worked as nail makers or blacksmiths during the medieval period.
The name Naylor is closely associated with the regions of Yorkshire and Lancashire in northern England, where many families with this surname have been historically concentrated. It is also found in some areas of Scotland, particularly in the Scottish Borders region.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Naylor can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Nailur." This suggests that the name was already in use during the 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest of England.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Naylor. One of the earliest was James Naylor (1616-1660), an English Puritan preacher and member of the Quaker movement. He was famously arrested and punished for blasphemy after reenacting Christ's entry into Jerusalem.
Another prominent figure was John Naylor (1838-1897), an English cricketer who played for Yorkshire and England during the late 19th century. He was considered one of the best wicket-keepers of his time and played in several test matches against Australia.
In the field of science, Sir Ralph Naylor (1913-1996) was a distinguished British chemist and academic. He made significant contributions to the study of natural products and served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hull.
The name Naylor also has literary associations. James Ball Naylor (1860-1945) was an American writer and poet, known for his works on nature and outdoor life. His book "The Trail of the Sandhill Stag" became a classic in outdoor literature.
Another notable bearer of the name was Benjamin Naylor (1753-1826), a British Nonconformist minister and writer. He served as a tutor at several academies and authored several religious works, including "A Scriptural Illustration of the Book of Revelation."
While these are just a few examples, the name Naylor has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence and diverse cultural connections.
People
Naylor + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Naylor as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Naylor: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Naylor?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Naylor going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about - US residents.
Is Naylor a common name?
We classify Naylor as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Naylor most popular?
The single biggest year for Naylor was 1916, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Naylor is about 0 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Naylor in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Naylor a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Naylor in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Naylor still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Naylor in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Naylor can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Naylor?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Naylor on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.