Hayden
Hayden was the 161st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,268 babies. Its best year was 2007, when it ranked 71st; the most babies were born in 2006 (6,470). Over the last ten years it has moved down 11 places. More babies were named Hayden in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning hay valley (place name) · Old English
Say it HAY-duhn /ˈheɪdən/
- Rank in 2025
- #161 boys, up 16 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 2,268boys
- Girls and boys
- 28% girls, 72% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20066,470 babies
- Total since 1880
- 147,508babies recorded
What does the name Hayden mean?
Hayden is an English surname from place names. Wiktionary derives it from Old English heg, 'hay', and denu, 'valley', so 'hay valley'; it also mentions a possible link with Middle Dutch heiden, 'heathen'. Wikipedia notes that as a first name it was mostly male until the mid-20th century and that its popularity rose with similar-sounding names such as Aidan, Braden and Caden.
hēg (Old English, “hay”)denu (Old English, “valley”)
How sure is this? Probable. 'Hay valley' is the main dictionary explanation; other sources for the surname exist.
Related names: Haden, Haydn, Aidan.
See also: English names, names that mean meadow, hill or valley, names from places.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Hayden', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Hayden (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Hayden popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #437 | #161 | 707 | 2,268 |
| 2020 | #298 | #177 | 1,086 | 2,157 |
| 2010 | #162 | #96 | 1,892 | 4,196 |
| 2000 | #685 | #129 | 348 | 3,044 |
| 1990 | #2,757 | #379 | 42 | 611 |
| 1980 | #6,454 | #1,013 | 10 | 80 |
| 1970 | #7,381 | #1,242 | 6 | 45 |
| 1960 | — | #1,348 | — | 35 |
| 1950 | — | #1,056 | — | 45 |
| 1940 | — | #1,077 | — | 37 |
| 1930 | — | #963 | — | 50 |
| 1920 | — | #848 | — | 64 |
| 1910 | — | #952 | — | 12 |
| 1900 | — | #871 | — | 10 |
| 1890 | — | #778 | — | 8 |
| 1880 | — | #973 | — | 5 |
How popular is Hayden, counting every spelling?
Hayden is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #157 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #161 for Hayden on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,484 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hayden | 2,268 | #161 | 11,355 |
| Haiden | 149 | #1,306 | 653 |
| Haden | 30 | #3,687 | 136 |
| Heyden | 19 | #5,100 | 73 |
| Haydon | 11 | #7,353 | 64 |
| Haydin | 7 | #10,054 | 29 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Hayden?
2,268 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Hayden (0.63 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Hayden born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 4 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Hayden.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Hayden?
About 110,300 people born in the US named Hayden are alive today, with a median age of 19; half are between 12 and 24. That makes Hayden mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Hayden by state
How common Hayden was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Wyoming (3.3×), West Virginia (2.7×), Iowa (2.7×), North Dakota (2.5×), Montana (2.4×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in New Jersey, New York, California.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Hayden: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Hayden, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Hayden · Sibling names for Hayden
Questions about the name Hayden
What does Hayden mean?
Hayden means “hay valley (place name)” (Old English origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Hayden?
Hayden was the 161st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 2,268 babies. Its best year was 2007, when it ranked 71st; the most babies were born in 2006 (6,470). Over the last ten years it has moved down 11 places. More babies were named Hayden in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Hayden a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 28% girls, 72% boys given the name Hayden in the US.
Where is Hayden most popular?
In 2021–2025, Hayden was most common in Wyoming (4.32 per 1,000 boys), followed by West Virginia and Iowa.