Hailey Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Hailey has Old English origins, meaning 'hay clearing'. It evolved from historical forms such as Hægelīc and Haleg. The name reflects traits of nature and pastoral beauty. There is no biblical relevance associated with it. Hailey became popular in the late 20th century as a feminine name derived from a surname. Today, it is viewed as a stylish and appealing name, with notable individuals like Hailey Bieber and Hailey Steinfeld contributing to its modern image.
The name Hailey is most popular in Idaho, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. From 2020-2022, Hailey has been falling for female in MidWest, too falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too rising for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too rising for female in South, falling for female in West. Across generations, 'Hailey' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6320th out of 7545 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 7696th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6774th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 14787th out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 11867th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2501st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 229th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 28th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 74th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Hailey' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Hailey"
Pronunciation
/ˈheɪli/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Hailey is derived from the Old English elements 'heg' meaning 'hay' and 'leah' meaning 'clearing' or 'meadow'. It originally referred to someone who lived near a hay clearing or meadow.
Meaning
Hay clearing
Language Evolution
Hægelīc, Haleg, Hailey
Historical Usage
Hailey gained popularity as a given name in the late 20th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a feminine form of the surname derived from various places named Hailey.
Variants & Derivatives
Hayley, Haley, Hailie
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Hailey is perceived as a trendy and youthful name, often associated with modernity and charm.
Famous People
Hailey Bieber, Hailey Steinfeld, Hailey Clauson
Explore More Hailey Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Hailey"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Hailey"
"Hailey" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 6320th of 7545 | 12 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 7696th of 16616 | 64 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6774th of 24088 | 166 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 14787th of 23106 | 29 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 11867th of 12526 | 6 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2501st of 19264 | 497 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 229th of 27321 | 19,821 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 28th of 35406 | 115,201 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 74th of 30306 | 43,326 |
Regional Popularity of "Hailey" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
47.20% 3452nd/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Hailey" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
83.83% 2462nd/2937 |
- |
61.26% 2155th/3518 |
39.71% 1606th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
5.94% 219th/3685 |
9.50% 425th/4475 |
3.99% 207th/5194 |
3.23% 204th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
0.63% 29th/4582 |
0.72% 37th/5164 |
0.44% 32nd/7313 |
0.33% 25th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
2.13% 85th/3984 |
0.91% 41st/4487 |
1.30% 89th/6822 |
0.99% 62nd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Hailey"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Hailey" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.