Haley is of American origin, derived from the Scottish surname Hay. It means "hayfield" or "meadow". The name gained popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century and has been a consistently popular choice since then. It typically ranks among the top 500 names for girls each year. Haley is often associated with the female protagonist in the novel "Goosebumps" by R.L. Stine, which may have contributed to its popularity. The name is phonetically identical to the English word "hayley," but it is pronounced differently. It is pronounced /ˈheɪli/ in most parts of the United States and Canada, with a stress on the first syllable.
The name Haley experienced a slow start with only seven births recorded in 1916, and it remained relatively uncommon throughout the first half of the century, with most years seeing fewer than ten births. However, it began to gain popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s, peaking in 1993 with a record 41 births. This high level of popularity continued through the late 1990s and into the early 2000s, before gradually declining again by the mid-2000s. Despite this decline, Haley remains a popular name today, with an average of five to six births per year in recent years. In total, there have been 836 recorded births with the name Haley since 1916.