Paxon
A variant of the masculine name Paxton, derived from an English surname meaning "peaceful town" or "valley."
Name Census estimates that about 459 living Americans carry the first name Paxon. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Paxon today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Paxon births was 2017 (41 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Paxon. 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.
People living today
459
~ 1 in 746,741 Americans
Peak year
2017
41 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,621
Tracked since 1994
Popularity
Paxon: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Paxon from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 284 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Paxon remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Paxon 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 Paxon during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Paxons live
Origin
Meaning and history of Paxon
The name Paxon is believed to have originated from the Latin word "pax," which means peace or tranquility. It is a relatively modern name that gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Despite its recent surge in popularity, the name Paxon has its roots in ancient Roman culture, where the concept of peace was highly revered. The word "pax" was often used as a salutation or a blessing, wishing peace upon the recipient. It was also a common motif in Roman art and literature, symbolizing harmony and prosperity.
While there are no definitive records of the name Paxon being used in ancient times, it is likely that it was derived from the Latin word "pax" as a way to honor the value of peace. The earliest recorded instances of the name Paxon can be traced back to the late 19th century in various English-speaking regions.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Paxon was Paxon Tate (1856-1932), an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia in the early 20th century. Another early bearer of the name was Paxon Smith (1873-1949), an American businessman and philanthropist from Pennsylvania.
In more recent times, Paxon Dalrymple (born 1985) is an American actress and model who has appeared in various television shows and films. Paxon Hembree (born 1987) is a professional baseball player who has played for several teams in Major League Baseball.
Another noteworthy individual with the name Paxon is Paxon Jeancake (born 1978), a British artist and sculptor known for his abstract and experimental works. His pieces have been exhibited in galleries across Europe and North America.
While the name Paxon may not have a long and storied history like some ancient names, its connection to the concept of peace and its increasing popularity in recent decades make it a unique and meaningful choice for parents seeking a name with a positive connotation.
People
Paxon + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Paxon as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Paxon: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Paxon?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 459 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Paxon 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 1 in 746,741 US residents.
Is Paxon a common name?
We classify Paxon as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 463 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Paxon most popular?
The single biggest year for Paxon was 2017, when 41 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Paxon is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Paxon a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Paxon 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.
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.