Hayes

♂ Boy

Pronounced HAYZ /heɪz/High

Meaning: Hedged enclosure; from Old English hæs (brushwood, shrub), referring to a hedged or wooded areaHigh

In 30 seconds: An Old English surname meaning 'hedged enclosure,' borne by U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes. Its single-syllable crispness has made it a rising first name in the 21st century.

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Origin HighOld English

MeaningHedged enclosure; from Old English hæs (brushwood, shrub), referring to a hedged or wooded area

U.S. rank (2025)#162 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births2,240 boys (0.13% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 20,913

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Hayes is an English and Irish surname from Old English hæs ('brushwood') or gehæg ('enclosure, hedged area'). It describes a person who lived near a hedge or enclosed area. As a given name it has been used in the United States since the 19th century, often in honor of President Rutherford B. Hayes.

Hayes as a first name has risen sharply in the 21st century, benefiting from the trend toward single-syllable presidential and aristocratic surnames for boys. It entered the U.S. top 500 boys' names in the 2010s and continues to climb.

Did you know? Rutherford B. Hayes (1822–1893), the 19th U.S. President, is the best-known historical bearer. His administration saw the end of Reconstruction in the South after the disputed election of 1876.

Variations

Hays

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Rutherford B. Hayes (1822–1893)
19th President of the United States (1877–1881).

If you like Hayes…

Tate— one-syllable Old English surname with the same crisp presidential feel

Grant— short, strong presidential surname used as a first name

Chase— single-syllable surname name equally popular and sporty

Oakes— a fellow Old English choice

Dean— lands in the same popularity range

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Hayes mean?

Hayes is an Old English surname meaning 'hedged enclosure' or 'brushwood area,' referring to someone living near a hedge.

How do you pronounce Hayes?

Hayes is a single syllable pronounced HAYZ (/heɪz/).

Is Hayes a boy or girl name?

Hayes is used predominantly as a boy's name.

How popular is Hayes?

Hayes has been rising rapidly in the U.S. since the 2010s and is now in the top 500 boys' names and climbing.