Hayes

Hayes is a given name of English or Irish origin that is a transferred use of a place name or surname. It can derive from either Hayes 1 or Hayes 2. The English surname originates from an Old English word referring to a fence or enclosure, while the Irish surname means “descendant of Aodh” (aodh meaning “fire”).

Notable Bearers

The name Hayes is notably associated with Rutherford B. Hayes (1822–1893), the 19th president of the United States. His presidency is remembered for ending Reconstruction and advocating for civil service reform.

Modern Usage

As a given name, Hayes has seen a rise in popularity in the United States since 2009, when it first ranked among the top 1,000 names for boys. By 2019, it entered the top 300, coinciding with a broader trend toward surname names and names ending in "s." It is also occasionally used for girls.

Variants

A variant form is Haze.

• Meaning: Enclosure (English), Descendant of Aodh (Irish)
• Origin: English, Irish
• Type: Given name (from surname)
• Usage: English, mainly US