Hadley first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Hadley has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Hadley

From the Old English word "haeðfeld" meaning "heather field".

Popularity of Hadley by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Hadley is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 97% of people named Hadley being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,304 female babies and 31 male babies born with the name Hadley.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 31 baby boys were named Hadley in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 31 2,304
2022 24 2,532
2021 25 2,475
2020 30 2,423
2019 32 2,571
2018 37 2,871
2017 35 2,707
2016 33 2,886
2015 37 2,975
2014 45 3,013
2013 32 2,829
2012 49 2,419
2011 48 1,759
2010 40 1,439
2009 44 887
2008 44 769
2007 41 687
2006 34 620
2005 41 450
2004 52 392
2003 24 373
2002 34 262
2001 33 266
2000 34 235
1999 29 198
1998 30 212
1997 25 157
1996 21 119
1995 17 102
1994 11 123
1993 16 92
1992 11 81
1991 15 64
1990 19 51
1989 18 51
1988 8 37
1987 18 36
1986 8 39
1985 9 23
1984 13 33
1983 10 33
1982 17 33
1981 14 28
1980 10 29
1979 14 28
1978 0 21
1977 9 18
1976 6 23
1975 11 22
1974 5 18

The history of the first name Hadley

The name Hadley is an English given name with origins dating back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English words "hæþ" meaning "heather" and "leah" meaning "clearing" or "meadow." Together, these words form the meaning "heather clearing" or "heather meadow," suggesting a connection to the English countryside and natural landscapes.

While the exact origin of the name is unclear, it is believed to be a locational surname that later transitioned into a given name. Historically, locational surnames were often derived from the names of towns, villages, or geographic features where people lived or came from. In this case, Hadley likely referred to various places in England bearing the same name, such as Hadley in Shropshire or Hadley in Worcestershire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hadley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. However, it is unclear whether this refers to a person or a place.

Throughout history, the name Hadley has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the earliest examples is John Hadley (1682-1744), an English mathematician and inventor who created the Hadley's quadrant, an important navigational instrument used in maritime navigation.

Another prominent figure was Stephen Hadley (1750-1822), an American lawyer and politician who served as the 6th Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1804 to 1810. Additionally, John Hadley (1731-1764) was an English composer and organist known for his compositions for the Anglican Church.

In the literary world, Anne Hadley (1630-1685) was an English Quaker writer and preacher who published several religious works during the 17th century. Furthermore, John Hadley (1907-1987) was an American historian and author who specialized in the American Revolutionary War and the early years of the United States.

While the name Hadley has been more commonly used as a surname throughout history, its use as a given name, particularly for males, has endured over the centuries. The name's connection to the English countryside and its longstanding presence in historical records have contributed to its enduring popularity.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Hadley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Hadley, please contact us.

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Hadley first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 13, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/hadley-meaning-and-history/.

"Hadley first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/hadley-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 13 December, 2024

Hadley first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/hadley-meaning-and-history/.

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