Hayley
Hayley is a girls' name of English origin meaning “hay clearing.” From an English surname and place name meaning hay clearing.
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how do you pronounce Hayley?
HAY-lee
where does the name Hayley come from?
From the English surname Haley, itself from an Old English place name combining heg, hay, and leah, a clearing or meadow.
It came to public attention as a first name through the child actress Hayley Mills, born in 1946, the daughter of the writer Mary Hayley Bell.
the history of Hayley
Hayley came to public attention as a girl's name through the child actress Hayley Mills, born in 1946. It is the usual spelling in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, while Haley and Hailey are more common in the United States, where Hayley was in the top 1,000 from 1977 to 2023 and peaked at number 120 in 1996.
how popular is this name?
Hayley has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 47 years since 1977. It peaked at #120 in 1996, and ranked #971 in 2023.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2023 | #971 |
| 2022 | #829 |
| 2021 | #704 |
| 2020 | #674 |
| 2019 | #697 |
| 2018 | #632 |
| 2017 | #611 |
| 2016 | #623 |
| 2015 | #548 |
| 2014 | #517 |
| 2010 | #430 |
| 2000 | #149 |
| 1996 | #120 |
| 1990 | #267 |
| 1980 | #728 |
| 1977 | #710 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Hayley fell outside the top 1,000.
who are famous people named Hayley?
- Hayley Mills (actress)
- Hayley Williams (singer)
- Hayley Atwell (actress)
- Hayley Wickenheiser (ice hockey player)
what are the nicknames and variants of Hayley?
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Hayley?
what names go well with Hayley?
Sibling names that share Hayley's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Hayley
What does the name Hayley mean?
Hayley means “hay clearing”.
What is the origin of the name Hayley?
Hayley comes from the English naming tradition. Related forms include Hailey, Haley, Haylee and Hayleigh.
How popular is the name Hayley?
Hayley ranked #971 in the US in 2023, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1996, at #120, and it has spent 47 years in the top 1,000 since 1977.
Is Hayley a boy or girl name?
Hayley is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Hayley?
Hayley is pronounced HAY-lee, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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