Hayes

At a Glance: Name: Hayes – Meaning: enclosure or brushwood (English); alternatively 'descendant of Aodh' via the Irish surname Ó hAodha – Origin: English or Irish (surname) – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: HAYZ

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Hayes is a surname-turned-first-name that works for any gender, pronounced HAYZ. It traces to English roots meaning "enclosure" or "brushwood," and separately to the Irish surname Ó hAodha, meaning "descendant of Aodh." With that surname history behind it, Hayes carries a vintage feel.

Meaning & Origin of Hayes

Meaning: Enclosure or brushwood (english); alternatively 'descendant of aodh' via the irish surname ó haodha.

Origin: English or Irish (surname).

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Hayes

Phonetic: HAYZ   IPA: /ˈheɪz/

Popularity of Hayes

SSA has tracked Hayes since 1880, and in 2024 it reached #160 with 2,249 babies given the name — its highest rank on record so far.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Hayes Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Hayes, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Addison
• Avery
• Baker
• Banks
• Carter
• Denver

FAQ

What does the name Hayes mean?

Enclosure or brushwood (english); alternatively ‘descendant of aodh’ via the irish surname ó haodha. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Hayes)

How do you pronounce Hayes?

Hayes is pronounced HAYZ (IPA: /ˈheɪz/).

Is Hayes a popular name right now?

Hayes is at its highest recorded popularity right now, ranked #160 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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