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Home › Baby Names Directory › Hadley

Hadley

♀ Girl

Pronounced HAD-lee /ˈhæd.li/High

Meaning: Heathery meadow; heath clearing — from Old English haeth (heath) + leah (woodland clearing, meadow)High

In 30 seconds: An Old English place name meaning 'heathery meadow,' Hadley has a fresh, breezy charm that has made it a popular American girls' name in the 21st century — particularly noted as the name of Ernest Hemingway's first wife.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningHeathery meadow; heath clearing — from Old English haeth (heath) + leah (woodland clearing, meadow)
U.S. rank (2025)#121 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births2,254 girls (0.14% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2014
Total births (all-time)≈ 46,582

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201419642025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Hadley derives from an Old English place name and surname composed of haeth (heath) and leah (woodland clearing or meadow). Several English place names carry this origin.

As a girls' given name Hadley rose in the United States in the 2000s and 2010s, part of the -ley surname name trend. It is associated with literary culture and a certain preppy New England aesthetic.

Did you know? Hadley Richardson (1891–1979) was the first wife of Ernest Hemingway, and their romance in 1920s Paris is vividly depicted in his memoir A Moveable Feast.

Variations

HadleeHadleigh

Nicknames

HaddieLee

Famous Bearers

  • ★Hadley Hemingway (1891–1979)
    First wife of novelist Ernest Hemingway; their Paris years are central to A Moveable Feast.

If you like Hadley…

Kinsley— modern -ley surname name with the same American preppy-country feel
Everly— three-syllable -ly surname name with the same melodic feminine quality
Hailey— Old English -ley name with the same breezy American popularity
Paisley— modern surname name with the same two-syllable fresh American appeal

Explore names like Hadley

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Hadley mean?

Hadley comes from Old English, meaning 'heathery meadow' or 'heath clearing,' from haeth (heath) and leah (meadow).

How do you pronounce Hadley?

It is said HAD-lee /ˈhæd.li/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Hadley a boy or girl name?

Hadley is used predominantly as a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is Hadley?

Hadley has been in the U.S. top 200 girls' names in recent years.

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