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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Hays — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Hayoon|Haysen
English◈ Unisex · 56% boy · 44% girl↑↑ Surging

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Hays

◈

HAYZ · 1 syllables

Share Hays:
Compare with another name
Boy
#4225
↑↑ Surging
Boy
#4225
Popularity score: 16
↑↑ Surging
Peak
#4225 in 2024
5yr
+1525 ranks
Velocity
+1525
Birth frequency
6.9 per 1,000,000 births
Girl

Outside top 1000

Last ranked #16055 in 2023

Peak: #16055 in 2023

→ Stable
5yr
—
Velocity
—
Birth frequency
1.4 per 1,000,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #4225 · Rising since 2020

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
English boy names
Hays

Popularity score: 16  ·  SSA Rank: #4225

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
84
Higher than 84% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↑↑ Surging
+1525 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
55
9 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Hays is surging in popularity right now.

Meaning Depth37% of score
60
Name Trend28% of score
88
Uniqueness20% of score
55
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
EnglishScottishNatureSurname-derivedUnisex1-syllablePlace-nameVintageGroundedModern-casual
Character
practical wisdomsteady reliabilitygrounded naturehonest directnessquiet confidence
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Hayss

athleticdeterminedskilledcompetitivefocused
STRONG
High confidence

Hays is an English unisex name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #4225 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↑↑ Surging · +1525 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:#4225 · very rare
Hays at a Glance
Meaning:From a Scottish surname meaning 'son of Hay,' derived from the Old English word for hedged enclosure or fence. Historically used as a place name in Scotland.
Language root:Old English · Scottish
Peak rank:#4225 in 2024
5yr change:+1525 ranks
Sex usage:Boy #4225 · Girl #—
Notable bearers
Hays McFarland
Child actor, Our Gang films
Hays Mitchell
Rock climbing athlete
Similar Sound
Hayes◈Haze◈HasteChase◈Blaze◈
Similar Style
Hayes◈Roan◈Rowan◈Finn◈Beckett◈Wren◈
Works well with
Wren◈Roan◈Sawyer◈Asher◈IvyQuinn◈River◈Rowan◈
You Might Also Like
Roan◈
Irish · #1350
↑↑ Surging
Rowan◈
Celtic · #71
→ Stable
Finn◈
Irish · #198
→ Stable
Beckett◈
English · #166
→ Stable
Jack
English · #15
→ Stable
Hudson
English · #22
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Name Intelligence
Hays · Overview
Summary

Hays is an English unisex name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #4225 in the US in 2024.

Search interest: 12/100 → Stable

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Hays scores 84/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Surging fast
Rank has moved 1525 positions in the last year. Exceptional momentum.
Works for any sex
56% boy · 44% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Nature · Vintage character
Hays carries a grounded, cool quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Rising very fast
Hays is surging. If the trend continues, it may become significantly more common within 2-3 years.
Domain taken
hays.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
Explore

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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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