Declining since 1996, #1,250 for girls today.
Popularity of Hayley since 1960
Babies named Hayley per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 634 |
| 1970s | 1,304 |
| 1980s | 6,109 |
| 1990s | 21,859 |
| 2000s | 13,949 |
| 2010s | 5,701 |
| 2020s | 1,847 |
Meaning & origin
Hayley entered the U.S. baby name charts in 1960 and rose steadily, reaching its peak popularity in 1996 when it ranked 50th. Since then, its usage has declined, and by 2025 it ranked 1250th, with only 1 in 8,979 newborn girls receiving the name. The name was most popular in Nevada, Virginia, and New York during its height. Its ascent was largely driven by the appeal of actress Hayley Mills and the broader trend of surnames as first names. While the classic spelling Hayley remains, variant forms like Hailey have surged even higher in recent decades, reflecting a modern preference for the "ai" spelling.
Hayley is an English surname derived from a place name meaning "hay clearing" from Old English "hēg" (hay) and "lēah" (wood, clearing). It became popular as a given name in the late 20th century, boosted by British actress Hayley Mills (born 1946). The name also popularized alternate spellings like Haley, Hailey, and Haleigh.
Where Hayley is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Hayley” around the world
Where Hayley lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Ireland
31
babies in 2025
New Zealand
15
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Hayl, Hales, Lee
Sibling names for Hayley
Names that share Hayley's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Hayley
Names whose popularity has moved with Hayley's over the last 50 years.
