Hayden
Boy name · #161 in 2025 · Well-known
In 2025, 2,268 baby boys were named Hayden, placing it at #161 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #150, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 794 boys born in 2025 was named Hayden.
The 145-year story
Hayden first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2006, when 6,470 boys were named Hayden — good for #73 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Hayden per year. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Hayden against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Hayden in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Hayden is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Hayden is most common
Geography matters for names, and Hayden is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Hayden is most common in WY (9.2 per 1,000), IA (3.7 per 1,000), WV (3.4 per 1,000), KY (3.4 per 1,000), MT (2.9 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.5 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Hayden is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Hayden
Statistically, parents drawn to Hayden tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Caden, Kaden, Brayden, Jaden, and Holden.
CadenKadenBraydenJadenHoldenCamdenJaydenCayden
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Hayden | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2,268 | #161 |
| 2024 | 2,341 | #154 |
| 2023 | 2,233 | #162 |
| 2022 | 2,303 | #162 |
| 2021 | 2,210 | #175 |
| 2020 | 2,157 | #177 |
| 2019 | 2,070 | #190 |
| 2018 | 2,183 | #180 |
| 2017 | 2,300 | #172 |
| 2016 | 2,394 | #168 |
| 2015 | 2,750 | #150 |
| 2014 | 2,891 | #140 |
| 2013 | 2,971 | #129 |
| 2012 | 3,547 | #109 |
| 2011 | 4,603 | #90 |
| 2010 | 4,196 | #96 |
| 2009 | 4,868 | #91 |
| 2008 | 5,949 | #76 |
| 2007 | 6,278 | #71 |
| 2006 | 6,470 | #73 |
| 2005 | 5,916 | #76 |
| 2004 | 5,019 | #87 |
| 2003 | 5,101 | #84 |
| 2002 | 4,142 | #96 |
| 2001 | 3,262 | #117 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hayden a popular boy name?
Hayden ranked #161 among boys in 2025 with 2,268 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #150.
When was the name Hayden most popular?
Hayden peaked in 2006, when 6,470 American boys received the name (ranked #73 that year). Since 2006 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Hayden?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 794 newborn American boys was named Hayden. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.