Haddy
A feminine Gambian name derived from the word "aaddu" meaning "griot".
Name Census estimates that about 170 living Americans carry the first name Haddy. It is a predominantly female name (97.1% of registrations). The average person named Haddy today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Haddy births was 2016 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Haddy. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
170
~ 1 in 2,016,202 Americans
Peak year
2016
13 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2001 SSA rank
#11,180
Tracked since 1998
Gender
Gender distribution for Haddy
Haddy leans heavily female at 97.1% of total registrations, but 5 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Haddy as a male name
- Ranked #11,180 in 2001
- 5 male births in 2001
- Peak: 2001 (5 births)
Haddy as a female name
- Ranked #16,085 in 2024
- 5 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2016 (13 births)
Popularity
Haddy: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Haddy from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 72 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Haddy remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Haddy by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Haddy during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Haddy
The name Haddy has its origins in the African continent, specifically in the Serer language spoken by the Serer people of Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania. The name is derived from the word "hadd," which means "to be present" or "to exist." It is believed to have been in use as a personal name since ancient times among the Serer people, who have a rich cultural heritage dating back centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Haddy can be found in the writings of the Arab traveler and scholar Ibn Battuta, who visited the region in the 14th century. He documented the name in his travelogue, which provides valuable insights into the cultures and customs of the people he encountered during his journeys.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Haddy. One of the most prominent figures is Haddy N'Jie (1898-1981), a Gambian diplomat and politician who served as the first Speaker of the National Assembly of Gambia after the country gained independence in 1965. He played a crucial role in shaping the nation's political landscape during its early years.
Another historically significant figure is Haddy Ying (1907-1988), a Senegalese educator and women's rights activist. She was a pioneer in promoting education and empowerment for women in her country and was instrumental in establishing several schools and educational programs. Her efforts paved the way for greater gender equality and opportunities for women in Senegal.
In the realm of sports, Haddy N'Diaye (born 1985) is a Senegalese former professional basketball player who competed in the WNBA and several European leagues. She represented Senegal in multiple international competitions and is considered one of the country's greatest athletes.
Another notable individual is Haddy Tope (born 1977), a Gambian-American author and storyteller. Through her writings and performances, she has sought to preserve and share the rich cultural heritage and traditions of her homeland, particularly the oral storytelling traditions of the Serer people.
Lastly, Haddy Faye (1905-1987) was a Senegalese artist and painter known for her vibrant depictions of daily life and traditional scenes in her country. Her works have been exhibited in various galleries and museums, celebrating the cultural diversity and artistic expression of Senegal.
These individuals, and many others throughout history, have carried the name Haddy with pride, contributing to their respective fields and communities while preserving the cultural legacy of the Serer people from which the name originates.
People
Haddy + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Haddy as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Haddy: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Haddy?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 170 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Haddy going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,016,202 US residents.
Is Haddy a common name?
We classify Haddy as "Very Rare". It ranks above 72% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 172 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Haddy most popular?
The single biggest year for Haddy was 2016, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Haddy is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Haddy a female name?
Yes, 97.1% of people registered as Haddy in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.