Hayes
Hayes is a given name of English or Irish origin that is a transferred use of a place name or surname. The English place name is derived from an Old English word that meant fence or enclosure. The Irish surname means “descendant of Aodh.”
- English
Meaning & Origin of Hayes
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Hayes is a given name of English or Irish origin that is a transferred use of a place name or surname. The English place name is derived from an Old English word that meant fence or enclosure. The Irish surname means “descendant of Aodh.”
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Hayes
Hayes first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1880, with 8 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2026: 2,292 births, good for #157 nationwide. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 58% of all recorded Hayess. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #157 among baby boy names with 2,292 births, rising sharply (+72% over the past five years). In total, more than 23K Hayess have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Hayes
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Hayes. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Hayes
Phonetically similar names — useful when Hayes is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hayes
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About the name Hayes
Hayes is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 23K births in the dataset. Hayes's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #157. Use the chart and map above to compare Hayes's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "H" →
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- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.