Hailey is a modern spelling of Hayley, an English surname and place name meaning "hay meadow", from the Old English heg, hay, and leah, clearing. Actress Hayley Mills brought the name to America in the 1960s, and Hailey Bieber carries this spelling today. Hailey ranked number 35 in 2000 and number 19 in 2010, stayed in the top 100 through 2024 and stands at number 104 in 2025.