Hayez
An Arabic name meaning "the one who is alert" or "vigilant".
Name Census estimates that about 13 living Americans carry the first name Hayez. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Hayez today is around 3 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hayez births was 2024 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hayez. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Hayez. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
13
~ 1 in 26,365,718 Americans
Peak year
2024
8 babies that year
Average age
3
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,287
Tracked since 2022
Popularity
Hayez: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Hayez 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 Hayez during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 13 | 0 | 13 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Hayez
The name Hayez is believed to have originated from the Middle Eastern region, specifically from the Arabic language. It is derived from the Arabic word "hayy," which means "alive" or "living." This connection suggests that the name Hayez might have been bestowed upon a person born during a time of prosperity or abundance, symbolizing life and vitality.
In ancient times, the name Hayez appeared in various historical records and manuscripts from the Middle East. It was mentioned in the writings of renowned scholars and poets, although the specific texts and references are not widely documented or preserved.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name Hayez was a scholar and philosopher from the 9th century CE, known as Hayez ibn Ishaq al-Andalusi. He hailed from the city of Cordoba in present-day Spain and made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics and astronomy during the Islamic Golden Age.
In the 12th century, a prominent religious figure named Hayez al-Din al-Suhrawardi gained recognition as the founder of the Suhrawardiyya order, a influential Sufi order in the Islamic world. He was born in Suhraward, a town in present-day Iran, and his teachings and writings had a lasting impact on Islamic mysticism and philosophy.
During the Renaissance era, a renowned Italian painter named Francesco Hayez (1791-1881) achieved great fame for his romantic and historical paintings. Although his first name was Francesco, he was often referred to as Hayez, which might have been a variation of his surname or a nickname derived from the given name Hayez.
In the literary world, Hayez Arrahhal (1912-1990) was a renowned Moroccan writer and poet who played a significant role in the development of modern Moroccan literature. His works explored themes of identity, culture, and social issues, earning him widespread recognition and acclaim.
Another notable figure bearing the name Hayez was Hayez al-Jamal (1923-2007), an Egyptian actor and comedian known for his roles in numerous Egyptian films and television shows. His comedic talent and ability to portray relatable characters made him a beloved figure in the Egyptian entertainment industry.
While the name Hayez has its roots in the Middle Eastern region, it has been adopted and used in various cultures and communities around the world, with each instance carrying its own unique history and significance.
People
Hayez + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hayez 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
Hayez: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hayez?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 13 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hayez 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 26,365,718 US residents.
Is Hayez a common name?
We classify Hayez as "Very Rare". It ranks above 33.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 13 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hayez most popular?
The single biggest year for Hayez was 2024, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hayez is about 3 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Hayez in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Hayez a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hayez in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Hayez still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Hayez in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Hayez can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Hayez as a first name?
For a quick modern take, check how many people share the name Hayez on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.