Peyton is an English surname and place name meaning "Pæga's town" or "Pæga's settlement", from an Old English personal name and tun. The 1950s novel and television series Peyton Place first made it familiar, and quarterback Peyton Manning kept the sound in the air while American parents were choosing it for daughters. Peyton rose from number 168 in 2000 to a peak of number 42 in 2009, held a top 100 spot until 2021 and ranks number 199 in 2025.