Declining since 2015, #6,446 for boys today.
Popularity of Hale since 1892
Babies named Hale per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1917, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Hale's real moment was 1896.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 12 |
| 1900s | 0 |
| 1910s | 129 |
| 1920s | 214 |
| 1930s | 124 |
| 1940s | 104 |
| 1950s | 81 |
| 1960s | 68 |
| 1970s | 28 |
| 1980s | 62 |
| 1990s | 68 |
| 2000s | 145 |
| 2010s | 163 |
| 2020s | 84 |
Meaning & origin
Hale is a compact, surname-derived given name with Old English roots, meaning 'dweller at the hall or nook.' It first appeared on the U.S. naming charts in 1892 and reached its peak rank of 6,446 in 1896, during the decade of the 1890s. Since 2015, its usage has been declining, with only about 1 in 131,390 boys receiving the name in 2025. While it has never charted in any state's top names, Hale retains a quiet, historical appeal for those seeking a short, strong name with a direct connection to English landscape and language.
Hale derives from the Old English word 'halh', meaning a nook, recess, or remote valley. It originated as a topographic surname for someone who lived in such a location, and later came into occasional use as a given name, particularly in the United States during the late 19th century.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Hale
Names that share Hale's style, for a brother or sister.
