What Does the Name Hayden Mean?
Hayden is a unisex name of Old English origin meaning “hay valley or heather-grown hill.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Hayden |
|---|---|
| Gender | unisex |
| Origin | Old English |
| Meaning | hay valley or heather-grown hill |
| Variants | Haiden, Haydn, Haydon, Aiden |
| Popularity | Popular for both sexes in the US since the late 1990s, used somewhat more for boys but firmly unisex. |
The meaning and origin of Hayden
The name Hayden means “hay valley or heather-grown hill” and has Old English origins. An English surname from a place name combining Old English heg ('hay') with denu ('valley') or dun ('hill'). It became a popular given name for both sexes in recent decades.
Variants and related names
Hayden is related to several other names you may recognize: Haiden, Haydn, Haydon, Aiden. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Hayden?
Popular for both sexes in the US since the late 1990s, used somewhat more for boys but firmly unisex.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Hayden below.
Generate a fake Hayden profile
Need a complete fictional identity using the name Hayden? Generate a full profile — address, phone, email and more — for testing and privacy.
Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Hayden mean?+
The name Hayden means “hay valley or heather-grown hill” and is of Old English origin.
What is the origin of the name Hayden?+
Hayden originates from Old English.
Is Hayden a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Hayden has trended in the US over time.
Hayden by gender
More unisex names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press