Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Hayley
GirlEnglish, Old English· “hay clearing”
- Meaning
- hay clearing
- Origin
- English, Old English
- Pronunciation
- HAY-lee
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,251
- US babies 2025
- 179
- Best rank
- #120 (1996)
- Peak year
- 1993
Meaning and origin of Hayley
Hayley is an English and Old English name that means “hay clearing”.
Hayley is an English surname taken from a place name, built from Old English words for hay and a clearing or meadow. As a first name it was introduced to many parents through the actress Hayley Mills, whose films made her a household name. Since then Hayley has been a friendly, familiar choice in the English-speaking world, with many spellings such as Haley, Hailey and Haleigh. It has a cheerful, outdoorsy feel. Hayley rarely needs a nickname, though Hay can be used, and it pairs well with both classic and modern middle names.
Popularity over time
Hayley first appears in US Social Security records in 1960. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 47 different years, starting in 1977. Its best national rank was #120 in 1996, and the most babies received it in 1993, when 2,618 were named Hayley. In 2025, 179 babies were named Hayley, and it ranked #1,251 nationally. That is 68% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #728 in 1980, #149 in 2000, #430 in 2010, and #1,251 in 2025. Of the 51,403 US girls named Hayley since records began, 43% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 13,949 babies. Since 2010, 7,548 more have been named Hayley.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Hillary, Kassandra, Chelsey, Raven, and Tori.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Hayley ranked highest in Nevada, Virginia, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | #555 | 5 |
| Virginia | #715 | 10 |
| New York | #878 | 18 |
| Massachusetts | #930 | 5 |
| Washington | #968 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Hayley is usually pronounced HAY-lee, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with H and ends in “-ey”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Hailey and Haley.
Middle names for Hayley
A few middle names that flow with Hayley: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Hayley
Similar names
Lindsey Girl
LIHN-zee
“from Lindsey, 'island of Lincoln'” · English
#1,369
Whitney Girl
WIHT-nee
“white island” · Old English
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Kingsley Unisex
KINGZ-lee
“king's wood” · Old English
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Riley Unisex
RY-lee
“rye clearing” · English
#48
Audrey Girl
AW-dree
“noble strength” · English
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Ashley Girl
ASH-lee
“ash tree clearing” · English
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Sydney Girl
SIHD-nee
“from an English surname and place name” · Old English
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Kinsley Girl
KIHNZ-lee
“from an English place name” · English
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Hadley Girl
HAD-lee
“heather clearing” · English
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Marley Girl
MAHR-lee
“pleasant wood or clearing” · English
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Presley Girl
PREZ-lee
“priest's clearing” · English
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Harley Unisex
HAR-lee
“hare meadow” · Old English
#418
Lists that include Hayley
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Hayley mean?
Hayley is an English and Old English name that means “hay clearing”.
What is the origin of the name Hayley?
Hayley has English and Old English roots. Hayley is an English surname taken from a place name, built from Old English words for hay and a clearing or meadow.
Is Hayley a popular name?
Not especially. Hayley ranked #1,251 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Hayley a boy or girl name?
Hayley is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Hayley?
Hayley is usually pronounced HAY-lee. 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