What does Hayden mean?
Hayden comes from an English surname and place name meaning “hay hill” or “hay valley.” It is used for both boys and girls.
What does Sawyer mean?
An English occupational surname, “one who saws wood.”
Hayden vs Sawyer
Which is more popular?
Sawyer is more popular than Hayden today: about 2,941 US babies were given the name Sawyer in 2025, compared with 2,268 named Hayden.
| Hayden | Sawyer | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Hay valley | Woodcutter |
| Origin | English | English |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | HAY-den | SOY-er |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1913 |
| Peak year | 2006 (6,470) | 2015 (4,272) |
| In 2025 | 2,268 | 2,941 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Hayden
Sawyer
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Hayden | Sawyer |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 13,512 | 17,914 |
| 2010s | 29,905 | 34,031 |
| 2000s | 50,049 | 10,153 |
| 1990s | 16,350 | 3,453 |
| 1980s | 1,006 | 275 |
| 1970s | 446 | 5 |
| 1960s | 325 | 0 |
| 1950s | 339 | 0 |
| 1940s | 435 | 0 |
| 1930s | 418 | 0 |
| 1920s | 620 | 0 |
| 1910s | 487 | 7 |
| 1900s | 91 | 0 |
| 1890s | 73 | 0 |
| 1880s | 28 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hayden or Sawyer more popular?
Sawyer is more popular than Hayden today: about 2,941 US babies were given the name Sawyer in 2025, compared with 2,268 named Hayden.
What is the difference between Hayden and Sawyer?
Hayden means Hay valley (English origin), while Sawyer means Woodcutter (English origin).
Which name is older, Hayden or Sawyer?
In US records, Hayden first appears in 1880 and Sawyer in 1913, so Hayden has the longer recorded history.