Paige

Paige is a given name of English origin that has been used for both males and females, though it is most commonly associated with females in contemporary usage. The name derives from the Old French term *page*, meaning “attendant” or “servant,” which in turn comes from the Latin *papegium* meaning “bird’s beak” and was used metaphorically for a clerk or young attendant. In medieval England a page was a young person attached to a knight or noble household, learning the skills of courtly life.

The name entered modern usage in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It began as a surname, appearing in records from the Norfolk area and in the parish registers of Sussex. As a first name, it gained popularity in the United Kingdom and the United States during the early twentieth century, peaking in the 1930s and 1940s for girls. In the United States it was a top‑200 baby name for girls from the 1970s through the early 2000s, and it remains in moderate use today.

Prominent individuals named Paige include Paige (Samekh) a Greek–Australian pop musician (real name Jacqui Aiken), Paige Turner a British professional squash player, and Paige Hurd, a New Zealand author recognized for her contributions to children's literature. In popular culture, Paige is the name of a character in the comic book series "Ms. Marvel," where the character, whose middle name is Panem, is a teenage bodyguard who becomes a superheroine. The name also appears in various fictional settings, often chosen to suggest a youthful, approachable, or modern character.

In addition to people, Paige has been used for several public places and institutions. Paige Road is a residential street in the suburb of McDonald, Victoria, Australia. In the United States, Paige, Texas, is an unincorporated community within Collin County. The surname Paige also extends to businesses such as Paige & Co., a boutique eyewear retailer in London.

The name Paige is noted for its short, uncomplicated structure and gentle phonetic quality. While its historical roots are linked to service or attendant roles, contemporary bearers of the name are often associated with modern, dynamic, or creative identities.