Hays: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#5,469

among boys · ↓1,227 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Hays · -32% vs 2024

How common

1 in 100,475

boys born in 2025

Peak year

2024

25 babies

All-time total

745

#6,202 all-time among boys

First recorded

1880

in Social Security records

Hays popularity over time

745 babies have been named Hays since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	5	5	1	–	#974
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	12	12	1	–	#1,013
1910s	–	83	83	8	+592%	#1,437
1920s	–	105	105	11	+27%	#1,674
1930s	–	43	43	4	-59%	#2,282
1940s	–	45	45	5	+5%	#2,470
1950s	–	24	24	2	-47%	#3,374
1960s	–	5	5	1	-79%	#4,369
1970s	–	17	17	2	+240%	#4,133
1980s	–	25	25	3	+47%	#4,464
1990s	–	20	20	2	-20%	#6,501
2000s	–	82	82	8	+310%	#6,229
2010s	–	153	153	15	+87%	#4,176
2020s (to 2025)	5	121	126	21	+37%	#4,242

The story of Hays

Hays is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,469 in 2025 with 17 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 745 American babies have been named Hays. Its peak came in 2024, when 25 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2020s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Hays stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Hays?

The median living Hays is about 11 years old; half are between 5 and 25. An estimated 500 people named Hays are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Hays year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	17	#5,469
2024	–	–	25	#4,242
2023	5	#16,068	16	#5,753
2022	–	–	21	#4,766
2021	–	–	23	#4,416
2020	–	–	19	#4,920
2019	–	–	17	#5,415
2018	–	–	18	#5,171
2017	–	–	20	#4,810
2016	–	–	17	#5,397
2015	–	–	16	#5,597
2014	–	–	24	#4,176
2013	–	–	9	#8,355
2012	–	–	9	#8,409
2011	–	–	15	#5,776
2010	–	–	8	#9,099
2009	–	–	10	#7,909
2008	–	–	7	#10,266
2007	–	–	10	#7,798
2006	–	–	13	#6,229
2005	–	–	9	#7,875
2004	–	–	11	#6,701
2003	–	–	6	#10,036
2002	–	–	7	#8,796
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	9	#7,040
1995	–	–	6	#8,175
1990	–	–	–	–
1985	–	–	9	#4,464
1980	–	–	–	–
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	5	#5,015
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	–	–	6	#3,475
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	7	#2,985
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	6	#3,771
1925	–	–	9	#3,016
1920	–	–	13	#2,385
1915	–	–	13	#2,108
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	5	#1,316
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	5	#974

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Hays, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Hays?

The median living Hays is about 11 years old. Half of all living Hayss are between 5 and 25 years old.

How many people named Hays are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Hays are alive in the United States, based on 745 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Hays mean?

Spelling variant of Hayes, which has multiple origins.

How popular is the name Hays in 2025?

Hays ranked #5,469 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 17 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Hays?

745 babies have been named Hays in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Hays most popular?

Hays peaked in 2024, when 25 newborns received the name.

Is Hays a boy or girl name?

Hays is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 99% of babies with the name.

Is the name Hays rising or falling?

Hays is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Hays

Names that sound and feel close to Hays: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Hays with similar names → More names starting with H →