Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Hayes
BoyEnglish, Irish· “hedged enclosure”
- Meaning
- hedged enclosure
- Origin
- English, Irish
- Pronunciation
- HAYZ
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #162
- US babies 2025
- 2,240
- Best rank
- #160 (2024)
- Peak year
- 2024
Meaning and origin of Hayes
Hayes is an English and Irish name that is usually said to mean “hedged enclosure”.
Hayes is a surname with two main roots. In England it comes from Old English words for a hedged enclosure, and it appears in several place names. In Ireland it is an anglicized form of Ó hAodha, descendant of Aodh, a name meaning fire. Rutherford B. Hayes, the nineteenth president of the United States, carried the surname, and it has recently become a fashionable first name for boys. Hayes has a smooth, single-syllable sound, in the style of Brooks and Wells, and it works well as either a first or a middle name.
Other spellings with the same sound: Haze, Hays.
Popularity over time
Hayes has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 48 different years. Its best national rank was #160 in 2024, the same year it reached its highest count of 2,255 babies. In 2025, 2,240 babies were named Hayes, and it ranked #162 nationally. That is 322% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #1,191 in 1920, #1,276 in 1950, #2,771 in 1980, #1,557 in 2000, #937 in 2010, and #162 in 2025. Of the 20,925 US boys named Hayes since records began, 53% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 5,918 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Matias, Jett, Beckham, Colter, and Barrett.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Hayes ranked highest in North Dakota, Wyoming, and Nebraska.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | #30 | 23 |
| Wyoming | #43 | 10 |
| Nebraska | #44 | 42 |
| Montana | #46 | 22 |
| Utah | #50 | 81 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 95% of US babies named Hayes over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Hayes is usually pronounced HAYZ, with one syllable. It has five letters, starts with H and ends in “-es”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Haze and Hays.
Middle names for Hayes
A few middle names that flow with Hayes: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Hayes
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Lists that include Hayes
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Hayes mean?
Hayes is an English and Irish name that is usually said to mean “hedged enclosure”.
What is the origin of the name Hayes?
Hayes has English and Irish roots. Hayes is a surname with two main roots.
Is Hayes a popular name?
Yes. Hayes ranked #162 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Hayes a boy or girl name?
Hayes is mainly a boy's name. About 95% of US babies named Hayes over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Hayes?
Hayes is usually pronounced HAYZ. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings