How to say it
TAY · lor
ˈteɪ.lər
Unisex
Taylor
Tailor
What it means
An English occupational surname for a tailor, one who cuts and sews cloth, from the Old French tailleur.
Taylor is an occupational surname for a tailor, from the Old French tailleur, 'cutter.' It became a hugely popular unisex first name in the 1990s, and Taylor Swift has since made it one of the most recognizable names in music. It reads crisp and modern, used freely for any child, with Tay as the easy short.
How to spell Taylor
The standard spelling is Taylor. Common variants include Tayler, Taylar, Tailor, but Taylor is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
Feminine: peaked at #6 in 1994, currently #403 in 2025.
Masculine: peaked at #51 in 1993, currently #685 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Worth knowing
Genuinely unisex; an occupational surname (the tailor).
- Pop culture
Taylor Swift is the defining modern bearer.
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.
- Taylor Swift American singer-songwriter
Spelling variants
- Tayler
- Taylar
- Tailor
Names with the same feeling
See Taylor from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Taylor mean?
- An English occupational surname for a tailor, one who cuts and sews cloth, from the Old French tailleur.
- What does Taylor mean in English?
- In English, Taylor means "Tailor." Taylor is an occupational surname for a tailor, from the Old French tailleur, 'cutter.' It became a hugely popular unisex first name in the 1990s, and Taylor Swift has since made it one of the most recognizable names in music. It reads crisp and modern, used freely for any child, with Tay as the easy short.
- How do you pronounce Taylor?
- Taylor is pronounced ˈteɪ.lər. Say it as TAY-lor, with the stress on the "tay" syllable.
- How do you spell Taylor?
- The standard spelling is Taylor. Common spelling variants include Tayler, Taylar, Tailor.
- Is Taylor a boy or girl name?
- Taylor is used for both boys and girls.
- How popular is the name Taylor?
- Taylor ranked #403 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.