Pailyn
A feminine name derived from the Thai word for gemstone or crystal.
Name Census estimates that about 139 living Americans carry the first name Pailyn. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Pailyn today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Pailyn births was 2009 (23 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Pailyn. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
139
~ 1 in 2,465,859 Americans
Peak year
2009
23 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,858
Tracked since 2009
Popularity
Pailyn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Pailyn from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 95 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Pailyn by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Pailyn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Pailyn
The name Pailyn is of Thai origin, derived from the Thai words "pai" meaning "to go" and "lin" meaning "a monkey". This suggests that the name may have originated in Thailand or among Thai-speaking communities, possibly during the medieval or early modern period when Thai language and culture were developing.
One of the earliest known uses of the name Pailyn can be traced back to a 16th century Thai folktale about a mischievous monkey who traveled from village to village, causing harmless but entertaining trouble along the way. While the tale is fictional, it provides insight into the cultural significance of monkeys and their playful nature in Thai folklore.
In the 17th century, there are records of a Thai Buddhist monk named Pailyn who was renowned for his wisdom and teachings. He is believed to have traveled extensively throughout Southeast Asia, sharing his spiritual knowledge with others and leaving a lasting impact on Buddhist philosophy in the region.
During the 19th century, the name Pailyn gained popularity among the Thai nobility. One notable figure was Pailyn Suriyawongse, a prominent member of the royal court in the reign of King Rama IV (1804-1868). She was known for her intelligence and her contributions to the arts and culture of the time.
Another historical figure with the name Pailyn was Pailyn Khoman (1887-1961), a Thai diplomat and statesman who played a significant role in shaping Thailand's foreign policy during the mid-20th century. He served as the Thai ambassador to several countries and was instrumental in maintaining Thailand's neutrality during World War II.
In the realm of literature, Pailyn Ratanasuwan (1919-2006) was a celebrated Thai novelist and short story writer. Her works often explored themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships, earning her widespread acclaim and numerous literary awards throughout her career.
While the name Pailyn is primarily associated with Thai culture, it has also been adopted by individuals of various backgrounds, particularly in regions with strong Thai communities or influences. However, the name's rich historical roots and cultural significance remain deeply rooted in its Thai origins.
People
Pailyn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Pailyn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Pailyn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Pailyn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 139 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Pailyn going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,465,859 US residents.
Is Pailyn a common name?
We classify Pailyn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 69.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 140 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Pailyn most popular?
The single biggest year for Pailyn was 2009, when 23 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Pailyn is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Pailyn in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Pailyn a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Pailyn in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Pailyn still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Pailyn in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Pailyn can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Pailyn?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many Americans are named Pailyn at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.