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Home › Baby Names Directory › Hayden

Hayden

♀ Girl

Pronounced HAY-den /ˈheɪ.dən/High

Meaning: From Old English heg meaning hay and denu meaning valley; a topographic surname meaning one from the hay valley or hedged valleyHigh

In 30 seconds: Hayden is a warm Old English surname name meaning 'hay valley' that has made a graceful gender crossing, becoming one of the most stylish and approachable names for girls in modern America.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningFrom Old English heg meaning hay and denu meaning valley; a topographic surname meaning one from the hay valley or hedged valley
U.S. rank (2025)#437 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births707 girls (0.04% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2008
Total births (all-time)≈ 33,417

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200819692025

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

Hayden derives from Old English heg (hay) and denu (valley), denoting a valley where hay was grown. It was a widespread English topographic surname before becoming a given name.

Hayden was popular as a boys' name in the 1990s and 2000s in the United States, and has since moved toward gender parity. It now sits in the top 500 for girls.

Did you know? Composer Joseph Haydn's name is often cited as a precursor to the given-name Hayden, though the Austrian composer spelled his name differently — the surname-name trend was driven more by Old English topography than by musical tribute.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name — Hayden — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

HaydnHaidenHaden

Nicknames

Hay

Famous Bearers

  • ★Hayden Panettiere (1989–present)
    American actress known for Heroes and Nashville.

If you like Hayden…

Payton— shares the -ton/-den surname-name structure and the same gender-crossing American trajectory
Brayden— fellow -ayden sound-family member with the same 2000s American peak
Madison— shares the surname-name trend and the same rise from boys' to girls' use
Layne— shares the Old English landscape element and the same crisp surname-name energy

Explore names like Hayden

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Hayden mean?

Hayden means hay valley from Old English heg (hay) and denu (valley).

How do you pronounce Hayden?

It is said HAY-den /ˈheɪ.dən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Hayden a girl's name?

Hayden has crossed toward gender parity in the U.S.; it is used for both boys and girls, with rising female use since the 2000s.

Is Hayden related to the composer Haydn?

The names look similar but the given-name Hayden derives from Old English topography; the composer Joseph Haydn has a separate Austrian-German origin.

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