Boy · #4,471 in 2026

Hays

Current Rank
#4,471
Peak Rank
#909 (2024)
Total Babies
769
5-Yr Trend
+11%
2023
First Year
2023
Last Year
2023
Peak Year
#15178
Peak Rank
5
Total Count
1
Years Active

The Story of Hays

The earliest SSA record of Hays as a baby boy name dates back to 1880, when 5 babies received it. 2024 was its biggest year on record, with 25 newborns named Hays — #4,184 in the national rankings. About 20% of every Hays on record arrived during the 2010s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Hays ranks #4,471 for baby boys with 23 births, gradually rising (+11%). All told, over 769 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1880s to the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Hays

Phonetically similar names — useful when Hays 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 Hays

What does the name Hays mean?
Hays is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1880. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.
How popular is Hays in 2026?
In 2026, Hays ranks #4,471 among boys' names in the U.S., with 23 babies given the name that year.
When was Hays most popular?
Hays reached its peak popularity in 2024, ranking #909 that year with 25 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Hays most popular?
Hays has historically been most popular in Arkansas, Texas. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Hays.
Is Hays a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Hays is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Hays?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Hays include Abbott, Jabez, Merida. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

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About the name Hays

Hays is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 769 births in the dataset. Hays's peak popularity came in 2024 when it ranked #909. Use the chart and map above to compare Hays's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.