Hayley is a bright and cheerful baby name. While the name owes its origins to successful medieval communities of the past, its current use within popular culture makes Hayley a trendy choice for the modern era. Hayley Anne Cropper is a character on the British soap opera Coronation Street, and Hayley Rose Hunter is character on the Australian soap opera Home & Away. Keep reading to learn more about this baby name.
Meaning of the name Hayley:
Old English: Hay meadow
Origin of the name Hayley:
Hayley derives from the Old English hēg (meaning “hay”) and lēah (meaning “meadow,” “woodland,” or “clearing”). It began as a surname and later transferred use into a given name. In addition to the primary origin, some etymologists suggest that Hayley may also represent an expansion of other surnames like Hayes (deriving from the Old English hæg and meaning “fence” or “enclosure”) or Hale (deriving from the Old English halh and meaning “nook” or “valley”).
Symbolism of the name Hayley:
Hayley originated as a surname for people who lived near the English town of the same name. The town obtained this label due to its proximity to a hay clearing or the importance of its central mill for processing hay. Symbols for Hayley include the pasture or bale of hay.
Style of the name Hayley:
Modern
Gender of the name Hayley:
Hayley is a girl's name.
Pronunciation of the name Hayley:
HAY-lee
Number of syllables in the name Hayley:
Two
Emotion evoked from the name Hayley:
The name Hayley evokes feelings of cheerful contentment.
Alternative spellings for the name Hayley:
Nicknames for the name Hayley:
- Hay
- Haye
- Ley
- Lee
Popularity of the name Hayley:
According to the Social Security Administration index, Hayley was the 674th most popular baby name for girls in 2020.
Related names for the name Hayley:
Great middle names for Hayley and their meanings:
- Aisling (dream, vision)
- Bryn (hill)
- Diahann (divine, heavenly)
- Elyse (abundance)
- Faye (fairy)
- Jane (God is gracious)
- Jules (youthful)
- Liv (life)
- Melissa (bee)
- Samilla (God has heard)
- Tara (hill, star, goddess)
Famous people with the name Hayley:
- Hayley Elizabeth Atwell (actress)
- Hayley Kiyoko Alcroft (singer)
- Hayley Angel Holt (actress)
- Hayley Noelle LeBlanc (vlogger)
- Hayley Jane Lewis (Olympic swimmer)
- Hayley Leanne Okines (social activist)
- Hayley Emma Raso (soccer player)
- Hayley Imogen Silver-Holmes (cricketer)
- Hayley Soraya Tamaddon (actress)
- Hayley Nichole Williams (singer)
Hayley in popular culture:
- Hayley Amherst (popular character in the novel The Lifeboat Clique)
- Hayley Anne Cropper (character on the British soap opera Coronation Street)
- Hayley Rose Hunter Smith (character on the Australian soap opera Home & Away)