Where does the name Preston come from?

Preston is a boy name of Old English origin.

Is Preston a boy or a girl name?

Preston is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Preston are girls and 99% are boys.

How popular is the name Preston in 2023?

Preston ranks #6866 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2007 with 3,814 babies.

How do you pronounce Preston?

Preston is pronounced PRES-ton (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Preston?

Preston is also written as Prestyn.

A name from Old English · Boy

Preston

From an Old English place name meaning 'priest's settlement' (preost 'priest' + tun 'settlement'). A surname tied to several English towns, adopted as a given name in 19th-century America.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

120,779 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

1,249 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

PFrom an Old English place name meaning 'priest's settlement' (preost 'priest' + tun 'settlement'). A surname tied to several English towns, adopted as a given name in 19th-century America.

Variants & spellings

1 ways to spell "Preston".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Prestyn Most common

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Preston.

P
Preston Sturges (filmmaker)
P
Kelly Preston (actress; surname)

Quick answers

People often ask about Preston.

What does the name Preston mean?: Preston means from an Old English place name meaning 'priest's settlement' (preost 'priest' + tun 'settlement'). A surname tied to several English towns, adopted as a given name in 19th-century America.
Where does the name Preston come from?: Preston is a boy name of Old English origin.
Is Preston a boy or a girl name?: Preston is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 1% of children given the name Preston are girls and 99% are boys.
How popular is the name Preston in 2023?: Preston ranks #6866 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2007 with 3,814 babies.
How do you pronounce Preston?: Preston is pronounced PRES-ton (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Preston?: Preston is also written as Prestyn.

Similar names

If you love Preston, also consider…

Edward

#213

Boy ·Old English

From Old English ēad, "wealth, prosperity, fortune," + weard, "guard, protector" — "fortunate guardian

Ashley

#3806

Girl ·Old English

From Old English æsc ('ash tree') + lēah ('wood, clearing') — literally 'ash tree meadow'

Mildred

#1841

Girl ·Old English

From Old English mild ('gentle') + thryth ('strength'); 'gentle strength'

Beverly

#1174

Girl ·Old English

From the Old English place name beofor ('beaver') + leah ('clearing'), originally a town and abbey in Yorkshire

Bradley

#359

Boy ·Old English

From the Old English brad ('broad') + leah ('wood, clearing'); 'broad meadow'

Dale

#1408

Boy ·Old English

From Old English dæl meaning 'valley' — originally a surname for someone who lived in a valley

Earl

#2251

Boy ·Old English

From Old English eorl, the title of a nobleman ranking below a king — etymologically related to Old Norse jarl

Todd

#1565

Boy ·Old English

From the Middle English surname todde meaning 'fox' — a nickname applied to a cunning or fox-haired person

About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.