Haylee
From the English meadow or hay field; a feminine name variant.
Name Census estimates that about 29,560 living Americans carry the first name Haylee. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Haylee today is around 21 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Haylee births was 2009 (1,522 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Haylee. 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
30K
~ 1 in 11,595 Americans
Peak year
2009
1,522 babies that year
Average age
21
years old
2004 SSA rank
#1,374
Tracked since 1968
Gender
Gender distribution for Haylee
Out of the 30,076 babies given the name Haylee since 1880, 99.9% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Haylee as a male name
- Ranked #5,927 in 2004
- 13 male births in 2004
- Peak: 2004 (13 births)
Haylee as a female name
- Ranked #1,374 in 2024
- 164 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2009 (1,522 births)
Popularity
Haylee: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Haylee from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 14,018 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Haylee 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 Haylee during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Haylees live
The SSA's state-level files cover 49 states and territories. Texas, California, Ohio recorded the most babies named Haylee, while Delaware, Rhode Island, Wyoming recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 580 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Haylee
The name Haylee is believed to have originated from the English language, derived from a combination of the elements "hay" and "ley," which were commonly used in place names during the Middle Ages. The element "hay" likely referred to an enclosed area or a hedged field, while "ley" meant a meadow or clearing.
During the Middle Ages, surnames often derived from place names, and it's possible that the name Haylee was initially a locational surname referring to someone who lived near a hayfield or a meadow. Over time, it transitioned into a given name, particularly after the popularization of rhyming names in the 19th century.
While there are no definitive records of the name Haylee appearing in ancient texts or religious scriptures, some historical references can be found. One of the earliest recorded instances is from the 16th century, when a woman named Haylee Woodhouse was mentioned in parish records from Berkshire, England, in 1583.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Haylee. One of the earliest was Haylee Vaughan (1622-1695), an English writer and philosopher who published works on natural philosophy and theology. Another notable figure was Haylee Atwell (1692-1776), a British botanist and explorer who documented numerous plant species during her expeditions to the West Indies.
In the 19th century, Haylee Greenaway (1818-1901) was a prominent English social reformer and advocate for women's rights, while Haylee Worthington (1857-1932) was an American author and journalist known for her novels and short stories.
More recently, Haylee Williams (born 1988) is a renowned American singer-songwriter and the lead vocalist of the rock band Paramore, known for her powerful vocals and influential style.
While the name Haylee has roots in English place names and was initially a surname, it has evolved into a charming given name with a rich history spanning several centuries. Its connection to nature and meadows adds a whimsical quality, making it a popular choice for parents seeking a unique yet timeless name for their child.
People
Haylee + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Haylee 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
Haylee: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Haylee?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 29,560 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Haylee 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 11,595 US residents.
Is Haylee a common name?
We classify Haylee as "Uncommon". It ranks above 98.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 30,076 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Haylee most popular?
The single biggest year for Haylee was 2009, when 1,522 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Haylee is about 21 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Haylee a female name?
Yes, 99.9% of people registered as Haylee 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.