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Hayden

Boy / Girl name · 1,119 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Hayden: 1,119 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 84 births in 2007.

Hayden began as an English surname derived from the Old English place names "heg" (hay) and "denu" (valley), meaning "hay valley." Its use as a first name, particularly for boys, gained momentum in the late 20th century, popularised by the American actor Hayden Christensen, best known for playing Anakin Skywalker in the *Star Wars* prequels. The name also carries a melodic, modern feel, thanks to excellent namesakes like the composer Joseph Haydn, though his surname has a different spelling and origin. While no major places are directly named after a bearer, the root "denu" appears in many British place names. Hayden has become stylishly unisex in recent decades, with the singer Hayley Williams sharing a similar phonetic start.