What does Parker mean?
An English occupational surname, “keeper of the park.”
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.
Parker vs Hayden
Which is more popular?
Parker is more popular than Hayden today: about 3,477 US babies were given the name Parker in 2025, compared with 2,268 named Hayden.
| Parker | Hayden | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Park keeper | Hay valley |
| Origin | English | English |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | PAR-ker | HAY-den |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2014 (5,720) | 2006 (6,470) |
| In 2025 | 3,477 | 2,268 |
| Trend | Steady | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Parker
Hayden
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Parker | Hayden |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 22,420 | 13,512 |
| 2010s | 49,234 | 29,905 |
| 2000s | 35,729 | 50,049 |
| 1990s | 16,234 | 16,350 |
| 1980s | 2,800 | 1,006 |
| 1970s | 632 | 446 |
| 1960s | 524 | 325 |
| 1950s | 568 | 339 |
| 1940s | 578 | 435 |
| 1930s | 559 | 418 |
| 1920s | 728 | 620 |
| 1910s | 546 | 487 |
| 1900s | 143 | 91 |
| 1890s | 134 | 73 |
| 1880s | 112 | 28 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Parker or Hayden more popular?
Parker is more popular than Hayden today: about 3,477 US babies were given the name Parker in 2025, compared with 2,268 named Hayden.
What is the difference between Parker and Hayden?
Parker means Park keeper (English origin), while Hayden means Hay valley (English origin).
Which name is older, Parker or Hayden?
In US records, Parker first appears in 1880 and Hayden in 1880, so Parker has the longer recorded history.