Hayes Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Hayes originates from Old English, meaning 'hedged area' or 'enclosure'. It has evolved through various forms in the English language. The name is often associated with traits of strength and friendliness, and it holds no biblical relevance. Its popularity grew significantly in the 19th century, and today it is recognized as a traditional and approachable name.
The name Hayes is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Hayes has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, too falling for male in West, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Hayes' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 997th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1267th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1577th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2129th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2493rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1196th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 300th out of 23106 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 22013th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 10681st out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2843rd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Hayes' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Hayes"
Pronunciation
/heɪz/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Hayes is derived from the Old English word 'haeg', which means 'hedged area' or 'enclosure'. It was originally used as a surname for those who lived near or on a piece of land that was enclosed by a hedge.
Meaning
hedged area, enclosure
Language Evolution
Old English: Hæg, Middle English: Hay, Modern English: Hayes
Historical Usage
The surname Hayes became more popular in England during the medieval period and was later adopted as a given name in the 19th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Hay, Hayes, Hays
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Hayes is viewed as a strong and traditional name, often associated with friendliness and approachability.
Famous People
Rutherford B. Hayes - 19th President of the United States, Hayes Grier - Internet personality and social media influencer, Hayes Carll - American country music singer-songwriter
Explore More Hayes Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Hayes"
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 "Hayes"
"Hayes" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 997th of 7545 | 759 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1267th of 6773 | 536 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1577th of 7552 | 472 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2129th of 10718 | 311 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2493rd of 16616 | 403 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1196th of 24088 | 2,138 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 300th of 23106 | 13,904 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 22013th of 27321 | 12 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 10681st of 35406 | 142 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2843rd of 30306 | 719 |
Regional Popularity of "Hayes" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
69.91% 964th/1379 |
44.67% 1057th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
53.04% 1248th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
64.77% 1574th/2430 |
63.27% 1805th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
60.24% 2098th/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - |
55.60% 2888th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
32.56% 1492nd/4582 |
49.40% 2551st/5164 |
11.36% 831st/7313 |
23.01% 1717th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
6.30% 251st/3984 |
12.10% 543rd/4487 |
3.78% 258th/6822 |
5.93% 372nd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Hayes" 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) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
70.93% 2826th/3984 |
- |
40.09% 2735th/6822 |
58.80% 3690th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Hayes"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Hayes" 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.