Preston
Preston is a boys' name of English origin meaning “priest's town.” It ranked #299 in the United States in 2025. Preston derives from the Old English 'preost' (priest) and 'tun' (town), denoting a settlement with a priory or church.
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how do you pronounce Preston?
PRES-ton
where does the name Preston come from?
From an English place name and surname, from the Old English preost, priest, and tun, settlement: priest's town.
It is a major city in Lancashire, England. As a first name, Preston has a polished, preppy quality that has kept it consistently popular in America. It projects reliability and quiet confidence.
how popular is this name?
Preston has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #114 in 2006, and ranked #299 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #299 |
| 2024 | #330 |
| 2023 | #274 |
| 2022 | #255 |
| 2021 | #241 |
| 2020 | #228 |
| 2019 | #217 |
| 2018 | #205 |
| 2017 | #190 |
| 2016 | #172 |
| 2010 | #131 |
| 2006 | #114 |
| 2000 | #141 |
| 1990 | #198 |
| 1980 | #276 |
| 1970 | #356 |
| 1960 | #358 |
| 1950 | #292 |
| 1940 | #288 |
| 1930 | #293 |
| 1920 | #251 |
| 1910 | #222 |
| 1900 | #227 |
| 1890 | #237 |
| 1880 | #241 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Preston fell outside the top 1,000.
who are famous people named Preston?
- Preston Sturges (American filmmaker, pioneer of screwball comedy)
- Preston Bailey (American child actor)
what are the nicknames and variants of Preston?
Nicknames
what names are similar to Preston?
what names go well with Preston?
Sibling names that share Preston's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Preston
What does the name Preston mean?
Preston means “priest's town”.
What is the origin of the name Preston?
Preston comes from the English naming tradition.
How popular is the name Preston?
Preston ranked #299 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2006, at #114, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Preston a boy or girl name?
Preston is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Preston?
Preston is pronounced PRES-ton, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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