Hayes Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Hayes is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Hayes?
Hayes is spelled H-A-Y-E-S. The name has 5 letters.
Hayes at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- The surname and given name Hayes commonly derives from Old English, meaning “enclosure” or “fence.”
- Origin
- The name Hayes is commonly associated with English-language origins, deriving from an old descriptive term for a hedged or fenced area.
- Pronunciation
- HAYZ · 1 syllable
Hayes Popularity in 2025
Rank#2,139
Recorded Births87
Rank#162
Recorded Births2,240
- Girls usage rose 369 places to #2,139 and recorded 16 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 2 places to #162 and recorded 15 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Hayes Mean?
The surname and given name Hayes commonly derives from Old English, meaning “enclosure” or “fence.”
Origin: The name Hayes is commonly associated with English-language origins, deriving from an old descriptive term for a hedged or fenced area. It has been adopted both as a surname and a given name.
How Do You Pronounce Hayes?
PronunciationHAYZ
Syllables1
What Is the History of the Name Hayes?
- History
- Records show Hayes as a surname in English-speaking regions, with use as a given name emerging in recent centuries. It is also prevalent in Irish contexts, sometimes as an Anglicized form of native surnames.
Hayes Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 87 | #2,139 |
| 2025 | Boys | 2,240 | #162 |
| 2024 | Girls | 71 | #2,508 |
| 2024 | Boys | 2,255 | #160 |
| 2023 | Girls | 79 | #2,314 |
| 2023 | Boys | 1,755 | #209 |
| 2022 | Girls | 87 | #2,174 |
| 2022 | Boys | 1,775 | #212 |
| 2021 | Girls | 84 | #2,212 |
| 2021 | Boys | 1,606 | #229 |
| 2020 | Girls | 98 | #1,948 |
| 2020 | Boys | 1,451 | #245 |
| 2019 | Girls | 69 | #2,538 |
| 2019 | Boys | 1,165 | #296 |
| 2018 | Girls | 71 | #2,478 |
| 2018 | Boys | 973 | #343 |
| 2017 | Girls | 67 | #2,597 |
| 2017 | Boys | 766 | #408 |
| 2016 | Girls | 25 | #5,284 |
| 2016 | Boys | 717 | #432 |
| 2015 | Girls | 26 | #5,127 |
| 2015 | Boys | 531 | #539 |
| 2014 | Girls | 24 | #5,456 |
| 2014 | Boys | 504 | #546 |
When Was Hayes Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2024 · Boys
2,255 recorded births
National rank #160
2025 · Boys
2,240 recorded births
National rank #162
2022 · Boys
1,775 recorded births
National rank #212
2023 · Boys
1,755 recorded births
National rank #209
Where Hayes Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| ND | #30 | 23 |
| WY | #39 | 10 |
| NE | #43 | 42 |
| MT | #45 | 22 |
| UT | #50 | 81 |
| SD | #57 | 18 |
| KS | #63 | 51 |
| MS | #64 | 36 |