Where does the name Hayden come from?

Hayden is a unisex name of Old English origin.

Is Hayden a boy or a girl name?

Hayden is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 23% of children given the name Hayden are girls and 77% are boys.

How popular is the name Hayden in 2023?

Hayden ranks #368 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2008 with 8,611 babies.

How do you pronounce Hayden?

Hayden is pronounced HAY-den (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Hayden?

Hayden is also written as Haiden, Haydn, Haden.

A name from Old English · Unisex

Hayden

From Old English heg ('hay') + denu ('valley'); 'hay valley'. Originally a place name and surname in southern England; adopted as a unisex given name in the late 20th century.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 143-year arc in numbers.

141,403 U.S. births recorded from 1880–2023.

Popularity · 1880–2023

3,067 births in 2023

1880 1951 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

HFrom Old English heg ('hay') + denu ('valley'); 'hay valley'. Originally a place name and surname in southern England; adopted as a unisex given name in the late 20th century.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Hayden".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Haiden Most common Haydn Haden

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Hayden.

H
Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker actor)
H
Hayden Panettiere (actress)
H
Joseph Haydn (composer; variant)

Quick answers

People often ask about Hayden.

What does the name Hayden mean?: Hayden means from Old English heg ('hay') + denu ('valley'); 'hay valley'. Originally a place name and surname in southern England; adopted as a unisex given name in the late 20th century.
Where does the name Hayden come from?: Hayden is a unisex name of Old English origin.
Is Hayden a boy or a girl name?: Hayden is used for both. In U.S. Social Security records, about 23% of children given the name Hayden are girls and 77% are boys.
How popular is the name Hayden in 2023?: Hayden ranks #368 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2008 with 8,611 babies.
How do you pronounce Hayden?: Hayden is pronounced HAY-den (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Hayden?: Hayden is also written as Haiden, Haydn, Haden.

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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.