How to say it
PAIS · ley
/ˈpeɪz.li/
Feminine
Paisley
From Paisley, Scotland
What it means
A place name from Paisley in Renfrewshire, Scotland (the etymology of the town is uncertain). Best known as the swirling teardrop fabric pattern, named for the town where the shawls were woven in the 19th century.
Paisley is named for the town of Paisley in Renfrewshire, Scotland, whose own etymology is unclear (some link it to Latin basilica or Old English passa-lēah, neither certain). In the 19th century, Paisley became one of Europe's main centers for weaving the curling teardrop-shaped fabric patterns the British imported from Kashmir; the pattern took the town's name. The first-name usage is recent and overwhelmingly American: Paisley entered the US top 100 in 2014, often given by country-music-influenced families (Brad Paisley the country singer gave it modern visibility). Pais and Paige are rare shorts.
Popularity over time
peaked at #45 in 2015, currently #67 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Brad Paisley is the dominant English-language anchor (Paisley as surname); the fabric pattern is the older reference for parents over forty.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Brad Paisley American country singer (Paisley as surname)
Spelling variants
- Paislee
- Paizley
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