Hayk

♂ Boy

Pronounced HIKE /haɪk/High

Meaning: From Armenian Hayk, the name of the legendary patriarch and hero considered the founding ancestor of the Armenian people; the name of Armenia in Armenian is HayastanHigh

In 30 seconds: Hayk is the name of the legendary patriarch of the Armenian people in Armenian mythology. Armenians call their own country Hayastan (land of Hayk) and themselves Hay — making this the most fundamentally Armenian name in existence.

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Origin HighArmenian

MeaningFrom Armenian Hayk, the name of the legendary patriarch and hero considered the founding ancestor of the Armenian people; the name of Armenia in Armenian is Hayastan

U.S. rank (2025)#3795 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births29 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 425

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

Hayk is the legendary founding patriarch of the Armenians, recorded in History of Armenia by Moses of Khoren (5th century AD). The myth describes Hayk as a giant archer who led his people from Babylon and defeated the tyrant Bel at the battle of Hayk, establishing the Armenian homeland. Armenians call themselves Hay and their country Hayastan after him.

Hayk has been used as a given name in Armenia for centuries, both as a patriotic statement and a connection to the founding myth. In the 20th century it was sometimes replaced by more internationally recognizable names, but it has seen a strong revival in post-Soviet Armenia as cultural pride reasserted itself. It is also used in Armenian diaspora communities in Russia, France, Lebanon, and the United States.

Did you know? According to Armenian legend, Hayk was a great-great-grandson of Noah who defeated the Babylonian tyrant Bel in battle around 2492 BC, establishing the Armenian people as a free nation. The epic is preserved in the 5th-century chronicle of Moses of Khoren.

Overall data confidence 92%

Moses of Khoren — History of Armenia — Primary source for the Hayk legendBehind the Name — Hayk — Armenian usage and etymology

Variations

HaigHaikaz

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Hayk (legendary (traditionally c.2492 BCE))
Legendary founding patriarch of the Armenian people in Armenian mythology, said to have defeated the Babylonian tyrant Bel and established the Armenian nation.

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Hayk mean?

Hayk is the name of the legendary patriarch from whom the Armenian people (Hay) and their homeland (Hayastan) take their name. It is the most fundamentally Armenian name.

How do you pronounce Hayk?

It is said HIKE, with one syllable, rhyming with the English word hike.

Is Hayk a boy or girl name?

Hayk is a boy's name in Armenian tradition.

How popular is Hayk?

Hayk is a common name in Armenia and among Armenian diaspora communities worldwide. It is rare outside Armenian communities.