Hoye
A Scandinavian name derived from the Old Norse word for "high" or "lofty."
Name Census estimates that about 9 living Americans carry the first name Hoye. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Hoye today is around 82 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hoye births was 1924 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hoye. 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
- • The typical person named Hoye is about 82 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Hoyes were born before 1954.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Hoye. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
9
~ 1 in 38,083,815 Americans
Peak year
1924
11 babies that year
Average age
82
years old
1947 SSA rank
#3,212
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Hoye: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hoye from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 18 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1920s peak, Hoye remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hoye 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 Hoye 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 Hoye
The name Hoye is believed to have its origins in the Germanic languages, specifically the Old Norse and Old English tongues. It is thought to be derived from the Old Norse word "hóy," which means "high" or "elevated." This name may have initially been used as a descriptive term, perhaps referring to someone who lived in a high place or was of tall stature.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hoye can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and wealth commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Here, the name appears as "Hoye," suggesting its usage during the late 11th century in England.
In the realm of historical figures, one notable bearer of the name was Hoye de Nansladron, a French knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the 14th century. Another individual of note was Hoye van Gent, a Flemish painter who lived in the 15th century and was renowned for his religious works and portraits.
Moving forward in time, we encounter Hoye von Anhalt, a German nobleman and military commander who served in the Thirty Years' War in the early 17th century. He played a significant role in several battles and campaigns during this prolonged conflict.
In the realm of literature, the name Hoye appears in the works of the renowned English poet John Milton. In his epic poem "Paradise Lost," published in 1667, Milton introduces a character named Hoye, though little is known about the inspiration behind this particular name choice.
Lastly, we have Hoye Tomichi, a Japanese scholar and educator who lived from 1856 to 1937. Tomichi was a pioneer in the field of modern education in Japan and played a crucial role in establishing the country's educational system during the Meiji era.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Hoye, showcasing its enduring presence across various cultures and time periods. While the name's precise origins remain shrouded in mystery, its linguistic roots and historical references offer glimpses into the rich tapestry of human nomenclature.
People
Hoye + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hoye 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
Hoye: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hoye?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 9 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hoye 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 38,083,815 US residents.
Is Hoye a common name?
We classify Hoye as "Very Rare". It ranks above 25.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 54 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hoye most popular?
The single biggest year for Hoye was 1924, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hoye is about 82 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 Hoye in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Hoye a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hoye 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 Hoye still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Hoye 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 Hoye 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 Americans are named Hoye?
See how many people have the name Hoye on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.