Hayden
Boy name · #161 in 2025 · Uniqueness 44/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Hayden against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Hayden in class?
Hayden scores 44 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Hayden is most common
Geography matters for names, and Hayden is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Haydens were TX (197), CA (166), FL (134), OH (103), NC (91). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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. It scores 44/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
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.