The baby name Hayes is cousin to chart-topping Aidan, and the heir to fast-rising Brooks.
Thanks to KayLeigh for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
FIERY
The baby name Hayes doesn’t seem as obviously Irish as Liam or Ryan. But it does come from the same Irish root as Aidan: Aodh, meaning fiery.
Or maybe not.
Hay, Haye, and Hey all appear in surnames, too. Depending on origin, they might refer to a heath or a clearing or a hedge, to a high place or a tall person, and so on. It could even derive from the given name Hebrew Chaim – life – which has become Chaya and Haya, along with a half dozen other forms, across the years.
There’s a Scottish Clan Hay, complete with distinguished members filling the history books and a tartan of their own.
SURNAME NAME
Hayes started out as a surname, and a fairly common one, too.
There’s nineteenth US president Rutherford B. Hayes, elected in 1877.
Fictional characters, like Moonlighting’s Maddie and The West Wing’s Ainsley come to mind. So does Major League’s Willie Mays Hayes.
1902 Olympic gold medal-winning marathon runner Johnny is another notable; so is legendary Ohio State football coach Woody.
Actor Helen Hayes racked up Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards over her long career, as well as a Presidential Medal of Freedom. A Broadway theater also bears her name.
BY the NUMBERS
Like many surnames, some families passed it down as a first.
The baby name Hayes appears in US data as far back as 1880, the very first year for which data is reported.
Into the year 1931, Hayes sometimes appeared in the US Top 1000, peaking at #582 in 1909.
Still, you could never call the baby name Hayes popular – or even broadly familiar.
That all started to change in the twenty-first century.
In the year 1999, just 55 boys were named Hayes.
By 2005, that number was 108
And in 2009, the baby name Hayes returned to the US Top 1000 at #954.
It has since climbed to #245. That’s downright mainstream.
TRENDING SOUND
The baby name Hayes fits right in with so many trends.
It’s a surname name, just like Carter and Mason. Last names have become the first place parents look for something familiar, but different.
Aidan and Aiden gave rise to Hayden. It makes Hayes the next logical name in the series.
Boy names ending with S are enjoying a moment. There’s always been James, of course, but lately there’s also Miles and Brooks, along with lots of up-and-coming boy names ending with S.
HIGH-PROFILE HAYES
Unlike some choices, there’s no clear, single reason the baby name Hayes rose in use.
A handful of high-profile birth announcements might’ve helped. Actor Kevin Costner named his son Hayes in 2009, the same year the name returned to the US Top 1000.
Comedian-turned-actor Hayes MacArthur might’ve helped the name catch on, too. (MacArthur was named for his great-aunt, Helen Hayes, the legendary actor mentioned earlier.) He co-starred in Angie Tribeca from 2016 through 2019.
In the short-lived 2016 series Conviction, Hayley Atwell played Hayes Morrison. Bones also had a recurring (male) character by the name.
Jessica Alba and Cash Warren chose it for their third child, a brother for Haven and Honor. The youngest Alba-Warren arrived on December 31, 2017. And sportscaster Jim Edmonds welcomed twin sons named Hart and Hayes in June of 2018.
None of those factors was enough to push the baby name Hayes into wider use, but chances are that every additional use helped.
STYLISH FAVORITE
The baby name Hayes has become a favorite for parents, a twenty-first century staple.
It’s a solid choice for families after something current, but with deep roots. Hayes balances lots of qualities – it’s cool, but doesn’t try too hard. We recognize it, but we don’t know dozens of boys with the name. (At least not yet!)
What do you think of the baby name Hayes?
First published on April 2, 2014, this post was substantially revised and re-posted on December 3, 2018 and again on February 2, 2022.
Always thought this was a really cool names when I first heard it on the show, “Hart of Dixie”. There’s a character, Mayor Lavon Hayes and somehow it hit me that “Hayes” would be a insanely cool first name in real life! The character elevated that name so much to me.
I think more parents who like short names and surname-names should consider it.
Hayes is one of my favorite surname names. It’s just so strong and dashing!
I tend to shy away from using surnames that have no family significance but I do quite like Hayes, Brooks and Davis. In fact, I know at least three little Hayes IRL.
I have a good girl friend named Hayes. I quite like it for a girl!
I named my son Hayes Matthew. People tell me all the time how different but strong his name is. I couldn’t find a name that fit him or l liked enough to link him to his whole life. I saw Hayes on a list and it just spoke to me. It’s different, not trend, there won’t be a bunch of kids named that in his class and it’s not too different he can’t get a good job! Lol
Hayes might be perfect for a couple I know expecting their first boy!
They are planning to call him a Top 10 name, but their last name is one of the ten most common in the US! It’d be like naming him John Smith a century ago! Hayes might be the solution from sentencing their son to being unoriginal for his life.
I like Hayes! I saw it on a backpack at the park recently and was struck by how much I like it. I also like Brooks and Davis and lots of the preppy surnames ending in s. They feel like a more eclectic bunch than the -ayden names, so I don’t think they will be as easily identified as a trend by non-name nerds 🙂
I’m actually transfixed by Khaye, which I realize is totally aside the point. But while I’m *incredibly* familiar with Chaia/Chaya and Chaim, I hadn’t seen the spelling Khaye in my family and I think it might actually be more usable, being more distinct from, say, chai tea.
…
Nope. Husband reports it looks like “Kay” fell down a kreative hole.
Oh well.
Hayes is fine. I still like Aidan more though. And I’m as Irish as a matzo ball.