Girl name · Scottish
Paisley
“church, pasture; the woven teardrop pattern”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Paisley.
Explore Paisley further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Paisley — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Paisley is a town west of Glasgow, its name probably from Latin basilica by way of Brittonic — a church. The town's weavers copied a Kashmiri boteh motif so prolifically in the nineteenth century that English now calls the pattern after the place rather than its origin.
So the name arrives via a textile rather than via people, which is unusual and is most of its appeal. It climbed fast through the 2010s and sits at number 67 in the US, almost unused in Scotland itself.
It resists shortening. Two syllables want two or three (Paisley Wren, Paisley Josephine). On our vibe map it is Boho, which the pattern earns honestly.
More Scottish names
Paisley sits in our Scottish set — these share its roots.
All Scottish names →Paisley — common questions
Is Paisley a boy or girl name?
Paisley is traditionally a girl name of Scottish origin.
What does the name Paisley mean?
Paisley means “church, pasture; the woven teardrop pattern” of Scottish origin. Paisley is a town west of Glasgow, its name probably from Latin basilica by way of Brittonic — a church. The town's weavers copied a Kashmiri boteh motif so prolifically in the nineteenth century that English now calls the pattern after the place rather than its origin.
Where does the name Paisley come from?
Paisley is Scottish in origin. So the name arrives via a textile rather than via people, which is unusual and is most of its appeal. It climbed fast through the 2010s and sits at number 67 in the US, almost unused in Scotland itself.
What are common nicknames for Paisley?
Pais and Paise — the short-forms parents most often use for Paisley.
How popular is Paisley?
Paisley did not make the top 1,000 girls' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Paisley you might want for the nursery.