Where does the name Haley come from?

Haley is a girl name of Old English origin.

Is Haley a boy or a girl name?

Haley is overwhelmingly a girl name in the United States. Of the 158,834 U.S. babies recorded with this name, more than 99% are girls.

How popular is the name Haley in 2023?

Haley ranks #684 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2000 with 9,069 babies.

How do you pronounce Haley?

Haley is pronounced HAY-lee (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Haley?

Haley is also written as Hailey, Hayley, Haylee.

A name from Old English · Girl

Haley

From Old English heg ('hay') + leah ('clearing'); 'hay meadow'. Originally a surname tied to several places in England; used as a girls' given name in late-20th-century America.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 133-year arc in numbers.

158,834 U.S. births recorded from 1890–2023.

Popularity · 1890–2023

426 births in 2023

1890 1956 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

HFrom Old English heg ('hay') + leah ('clearing'); 'hay meadow'. Originally a surname tied to several places in England; used as a girls' given name in late-20th-century America.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Haley".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Hailey Most common Hayley Haylee

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Haley.

H
Hayley Mills (actress; variant)
H
Halle Berry (actress; etymologically related)
H
Halsey (singer, real name Ashley Frangipane)

Quick answers

People often ask about Haley.

What does the name Haley mean?: Haley means from Old English heg ('hay') + leah ('clearing'); 'hay meadow'. Originally a surname tied to several places in England; used as a girls' given name in late-20th-century America.
Where does the name Haley come from?: Haley is a girl name of Old English origin.
Is Haley a boy or a girl name?: Haley is overwhelmingly a girl name in the United States. Of the 158,834 U.S. babies recorded with this name, more than 99% are girls.
How popular is the name Haley in 2023?: Haley ranks #684 for girls in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2000 with 9,069 babies.
How do you pronounce Haley?: Haley is pronounced HAY-lee (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Haley?: Haley is also written as Hailey, Hayley, Haylee.

Similar names

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Edward

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Boy ·Old English

From Old English ēad, "wealth, prosperity, fortune," + weard, "guard, protector" — "fortunate guardian

Ashley

#3806

Girl ·Old English

From Old English æsc ('ash tree') + lēah ('wood, clearing') — literally 'ash tree meadow'

Mildred

#1841

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From Old English mild ('gentle') + thryth ('strength'); 'gentle strength'

Beverly

#1174

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From the Old English place name beofor ('beaver') + leah ('clearing'), originally a town and abbey in Yorkshire

Bradley

#359

Boy ·Old English

From the Old English brad ('broad') + leah ('wood, clearing'); 'broad meadow'

Dale

#1408

Boy ·Old English

From Old English dæl meaning 'valley' — originally a surname for someone who lived in a valley

Earl

#2251

Boy ·Old English

From Old English eorl, the title of a nobleman ranking below a king — etymologically related to Old Norse jarl

Todd

#1565

Boy ·Old English

From the Middle English surname todde meaning 'fox' — a nickname applied to a cunning or fox-haired person

About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meanings and origins are curated from etymological sources. If you spot an error, please let us know.