Peiton
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly related to the Greek word "peitho" meaning "persuasion".
Name Census estimates that about 25 living Americans carry the first name Peiton. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Peiton today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Peiton births was 2010 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Peiton. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Peiton. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
25
~ 1 in 13,710,174 Americans
Peak year
2010
8 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2016 SSA rank
#14,000
Tracked since 2004
Popularity
Peiton: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Peiton from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 20 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Peiton 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 Peiton during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Peiton
The name Peiton has its origins in ancient Greece, derived from the Greek word "peiton," which means "persuasive" or "convincing." This name was initially used during the classical period of ancient Greek civilization, spanning from the 5th to the 4th century BCE.
Peiton gained its prominence in Greek mythology, where it was associated with several notable figures. One such figure was Peiton, a skilled orator and diplomat who played a pivotal role in resolving conflicts through his persuasive rhetoric. His name became synonymous with the art of persuasion and diplomacy.
The earliest recorded use of the name Peiton can be traced back to the works of Greek historians and philosophers, such as Herodotus and Plato. These ancient texts mention individuals bearing this name, often describing them as gifted speakers and negotiators.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Peiton. One of the earliest was Peiton of Byzantium, a philosopher and rhetorician who lived in the 3rd century BCE. He was renowned for his teachings on rhetoric and public speaking.
Another noteworthy figure was Peiton of Smyrna, a Greek historian who lived in the 2nd century BCE. He authored a comprehensive history of the Greco-Roman world, though much of his work has been lost to time.
During the Byzantine era, Peiton Maurikios (c. 540 – 602 CE) was a prominent military leader and strategist. He played a crucial role in defending the Byzantine Empire against invasions and is credited with implementing significant military reforms.
In the 12th century, Peiton of Tyre (c. 1130 – 1188) was a renowned chronicler and historian. His work, "Historia rerum in partibus transmarinis gestarum" (History of Deeds Done Beyond the Sea), provides a valuable account of the Crusades and the events of his time.
Another notable figure was Peiton of Corinth (c. 1450 – 1520), a Greek scholar and humanist who played a significant role in the Renaissance. He was known for his translations of ancient Greek texts and his contributions to the revival of classical learning.
While the name Peiton has its roots in ancient Greece, it has been adapted and used across various cultures and languages throughout history, reflecting its enduring appeal and the admiration for the qualities it represents.
People
Peiton + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Peiton 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
Peiton: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Peiton?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 25 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Peiton 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 13,710,174 US residents.
Is Peiton a common name?
We classify Peiton as "Very Rare". It ranks above 43.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 25 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Peiton most popular?
The single biggest year for Peiton was 2010, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Peiton is about 15 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 Peiton in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Peiton a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Peiton in the SSA data are female. 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 Peiton still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Peiton 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 Peiton 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 Peiton?
If you just want to know how many Americans are named Peiton, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.