Updated February 8, 2024

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Boy name origins & meanings

  • Old English : Dweller at the church; priest's settlement

What does Preston mean and stand for?

The name Preston is of Old English origin and means "priest's estate." It was originally a surname derived from the two Old English words preost and tu.

Syllables: 2

Boy name variations

Prescott

Prescott

+ 12% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Presley

Presley

- 5% this year
Neutral
Common
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Priestley

Priestley

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Priestly

Priestly

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Priest

Priest

+ 7% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Prestan

Prestan

0 % this year
Masculine
Rare
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Presten

Presten

- 33% this year
Masculine
Rare
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Prestin

Prestin

- 25% this year
Masculine
Rare
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How Popular Is The Name Preston

Family name origins & meanings

  • English : habitational name from any of the extremely numerous places (most notably one in Lancashire) so called from Old English prēost ‘priest’ + tūn ‘enclosure’, ‘settlement’; the meaning may have been either ‘village with a priest’ or ‘village held by the Church’.
  • Scottish : habitational name from Presto(u)n, now Craigmillar, in Midlothian.

Famous people with this last name

What Does the Name Preston Mean?

The name Preston was once a popular surname, but has since reemerged as a popular given name. Meaning "priest's estate," Preston has appeared in various parts of the world.

How Popular is the Name Preston?

Preston is the number 241 most popular boys name in the US, according to 2021 Social Security Administration data. The name peaked about a decade ago, but has since slowly fallen in popularity each year.

However, it is the 10th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

Popularity of the Name Preston in the United States

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Preston was at its peak popularity in July 2020.

Preston was searched for most often in the following states:

  1. Kentucky
  2. Idaho
  3. West Virginia
  4. Texas
  5. Delaware

Famous People Named Preston and Preston in Pop Culture

Popular decades previously, Britney Spears put the name Preston back on the map when she chose Preston for her son's middle name (which the family refers to him by). Other notable namesakes include playwright Preston Sturges, Congressman Preston Brooks, LoCash singer Preston Brust, guitarist Preston Reed, and TV personality Preston Lacy. The name has also been very popular in pop culture, appearing in Grey's Anatomy, Can't Hardly Wait, Desperate Housewives, and She's All That.

Pairs Well with These Middle Names

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Meaning and Origin of Preston