How to say it
HAYES
heɪz
Masculine
Hayes
From the hedged enclosure
What it means
English surname from Old English hæg ('hedge, enclosure'). The 19th US president Rutherford B. Hayes is the political anchor; Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) is the modern one.
Hayes is an English surname from the Old English hæg ('hedge, enclosure'), describing someone who lived near a hedged or fenced area. The Hayes family name has been common in England and Ireland for centuries. Rutherford B. Hayes (19th US president, 1877-1881) is the political anchor. Sean Hayes (Will & Grace's Jack McFarland, 1998-2006) gave the surname comic-actor weight. The first-name usage is modern American: rare before 2000, then rising fast with the broader masculine surname-first wave. It entered the US top 500 in 2014 and continues to climb. Single syllable, no short.
How to spell Hayes
The standard spelling is Hayes. Common variants include Hays, but Hayes is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #160 in 2024, currently #162 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Singer Hayes Carll and actor Sean Hayes (Hayes as surname) are the modern English-language anchors.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Rutherford B. Hayes 19th US president, 1877-1881
- Sean Hayes American actor, Jack McFarland in Will & Grace
Spelling variants
- Hays
Names with the same feeling
See Hayes from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Hayes mean?
- English surname from Old English hæg ('hedge, enclosure'). The 19th US president Rutherford B. Hayes is the political anchor; Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) is the modern one.
- What does Hayes mean in Old English?
- In Old English, Hayes means "From the hedged enclosure." Hayes is an English surname from the Old English hæg ('hedge, enclosure'), describing someone who lived near a hedged or fenced area. The Hayes family name has been common in England and Ireland for centuries. Rutherford B. Hayes (19th US president, 1877-1881) is the political anchor. Sean Hayes (Will & Grace's Jack McFarland, 1998-2006) gave the surname comic-actor weight. The first-name usage is modern American: rare before 2000, then rising fast with the broader masculine surname-first wave. It entered the US top 500 in 2014 and continues to climb. Single syllable, no short.
- How do you pronounce Hayes?
- Hayes is pronounced heɪz. Say it as HAYES, with the stress on the "hayes" syllable.
- How do you spell Hayes?
- The standard spelling is Hayes. Common spelling variants include Hays.
- Is Hayes a boy or girl name?
- Hayes is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Hayes?
- Hayes ranked #162 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.