Hays

♂ Boy

Pronounced HAYZ /ˈheɪz/High

Meaning: From the surname Hayes/Hays — Old English hæg, 'a hedged enclosure', or Irish O'Hea; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: Crisp and surname-cool: Hays is the snappy English name — 'of the hedged enclosure'. One syllable, all confidence.

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Origin MediumEnglish, Scottish

MeaningFrom the surname Hayes/Hays — Old English hæg, 'a hedged enclosure', or Irish O'Hea; routes layered

U.S. rank (2025)#5469 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births17 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 740

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

Hays is a spelling of the surname Hayes — from Old English hæg, 'a hedged enclosure', or the Irish O'Hea (routes layered, which we note). A crisp, confident surname-name.

It registers thinly in records. Rare, hedged-enclosure at the (likely) root, and crisp.

Did you know? Hays/Hayes comes from Old English for 'a hedged enclosure' (or the Irish O'Hea) — a snappy, modern surname-name (President Rutherford B. Hayes too).

Overall data confidence 65%

Behind the Name — Hayes — routes layered

Variations

HayesHazeHayse

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Hays…

Hayes— the standard spelling

Brooks— a fellow -s surname-name

Banks— a companion -s name

Wells— another crisp surname-name

Explore names like Hays

By themeuncertain english surname-name scottish

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Hays mean?

Hays spells Hayes — 'a hedged enclosure' (or Irish O'Hea); the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Hays?

It's said HAYZ /ˈheɪz/ — a single syllable.

Is Hays a boy or girl name?

Hays is a boy's name.

How popular is Hays?

Hays is a rare name in the U.S.