Hayden
Gender-neutral name · English · German
Meaninghay valley · Old English
- US rank
- #161
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #71 in 2007
2,268 babies were named Hayden in the US in 2025. It has climbed 16 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 1969–2025
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Hayden you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Hayden
Hayden Panettiere
American actress and singer (1989–2026)
Choose Hayden and your child shares a first name with Hayden Panettiere, an American actress and singer. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Hayden, like who?” Hayden Panettiere's Wikipedia article is available in 70 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Hayden Panettiere on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Toglenn, CC BY-SA 3.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 753 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Hayden, 2,268 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Hayden would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryHayden has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Haydens, and counting.
- Best yearIts best year was 2007, when it reached #71.
- Where it's lovedHayden is most popular in Wyoming, where it ranks #39, followed by Iowa (#61) and Kentucky (#65). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- Boy or girlHayden is given to both boys and girls: 76% of the 2,975 babies named Hayden in 2025 were boys. That makes it one of the names that truly works for either.
- MeaningIn Old English, Hayden means “hay valley”. Our records link it to English and German roots.
About the name Hayden
Hayden is a gender-neutral name of English and German origin meaning “hay valley”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with H and ending in “-den”. US birth records list Hayden for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 140 of those 146 years. Its best year was 2007, when it ranked #71 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #161, with 2,268 babies. Of the 2,975 US babies named Hayden in 2025, 24% were girls and 76% were boys.
Origin:English namesGerman names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.6 | 277,778 girls |
| 1970s | 6.3 | 157,729 girls |
| 1980s | 13 | 78,003 girls |
| 1990s | 88 | 11,348 girls |
| 2000s | 562 | 1,779 girls |
| 2010s | 889 | 1,125 girls |
| 2020s | 560 | 1,785 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 25 | 40,177 boys |
| 1890s | 64 | 15,555 boys |
| 1900s | 67 | 15,035 boys |
| 1910s | 75 | 13,408 boys |
| 1920s | 56 | 17,759 boys |
| 1930s | 40 | 25,189 boys |
| 1940s | 30 | 33,625 boys |
| 1950s | 17 | 59,137 boys |
| 1960s | 17 | 59,032 boys |
| 1970s | 27 | 37,023 boys |
| 1980s | 54 | 18,615 boys |
| 1990s | 847 | 1,180 boys |
| 2000s | 2,498 | 400 boys |
| 2010s | 1,585 | 631 boys |
| 2020s | 1,304 | 767 boys |
Other spellings of Hayden
More English names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
Questions about the name Hayden
What does the name Hayden mean?
Hayden means “hay valley” in Old English.
What is the origin of the name Hayden?
Hayden has English, German roots in our records. Other English names include Olivia, Charlotte, Oliver.
Is Hayden a boy or girl name?
Both. Hayden is used for boys and girls: in 2025, 24% of US babies named Hayden were girls.
How popular is the name Hayden?
Hayden ranked #161 for US boys in 2025, given to 2,268 babies. Its best year was 2007 (#71).