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Haley

♀ Girl

Pronounced HAY-lee /ˈheɪ.li/High

Meaning: From the Old English place name Haegleah, composed of haeg (hay) and leah (clearing, meadow), meaning 'hay meadow' or 'hay clearing'; brought to popular use via the English surname Hailey/HaleyHigh

In 30 seconds: Haley is a bright Old English surname meaning hay meadow, one of the most popular American girls names of the 1990s and 2000s. Its sunny sound and easy spelling give it enduring, straightforward appeal.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningFrom the Old English place name Haegleah, composed of haeg (hay) and leah (clearing, meadow), meaning 'hay meadow' or 'hay clearing'; brought to popular use via the English surname Hailey/Haley
U.S. rank (2025)#861 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births314 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2000
Total births (all-time)≈ 159,501

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200018902025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Haley derives from the Old English Haegleah, meaning 'hay clearing' or 'hay meadow', from haeg (hay) and leah (forest clearing, meadow). It was established as a surname in England by the medieval period and carried to the United States with English settlers. The surname-to-given-name transfer followed the broad American pattern of taking English place-name surnames into personal name use.

Haley became enormously popular in the United States in the 1990s and 2000s, ranking in the top 30 girls names for much of that period. The various spellings — Haley, Hailey, Haylee, Hailee — together make the name one of the most common of its generation. Actress Haley Joel Osment and various other celebrities have kept the name visible.

Did you know? Halley's Comet, which orbits the Sun every 75–76 years and is named after astronomer Edmond Halley, gives the Haley/Hailey family of names a celestial connection — though the comet spells the name Halley.
Overall data confidence 88%
Behind the Name — Haley — Old English place-name etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — Haley and variant popularity data

Variations

HaileyHayleyHayleeHailee

Nicknames

Hale

Famous Bearers

  • ★Haley Joel Osment (1988–present)
    American actor known for his childhood role in The Sixth Sense and for his later adult career.

If you like Haley…

Bailey— same -ley ending Old English surname-name and similar era of popularity
Kailey— shares the -ailey sound and the 1990s–2000s American girls name family
Kailyn— same generation of -ley/-lyn feminine names
Paige— same brief, bright, 1990s American girls name energy

Frequently Asked

What does the name Haley mean?

Haley means hay meadow or hay clearing, from Old English haeg (hay) and leah (clearing).

How do you pronounce Haley?

It is said HAY-lee, with two syllables.

Is Haley the same as Hailey?

Haley and Hailey are variant spellings of the same name; both are very common and share the same meaning and pronunciation.

Is Haley a popular name?

Haley and its variants were among the most popular U.S. girls names in the 1990s and 2000s.