Back when I published the first version of this post — using the SSA’s 2007 baby name data — the name Hailey was the 23rd most popular name for U.S. baby girls.
(It’s highest-ever usage had been a few years earlier, in 2003.)
But, while “Hailey” was the most popular spelling of the name, it certainly wasn’t the only spelling being used. Other popular variants included…
- Hailey, 23rd (given to 8,436 baby girls)
- Haley, 76th (4,200)
- Haylee, 237th (1,496)
- Hayley, 306th (1,110)
- Haylie, 426th (770)
- Hailee, 443rd (726)
- Haleigh, 625th (477)
- Hailie, 822nd (349)
- Hayleigh, 986th (272)
- Halie, 1,112th (233)
- Haily, 1,546th (148)
- Haileigh, 1,861st (113)
And, of course, there were dozens more. Some examples: Halley, Hayli, Haylei, Haile, Haylea, Haili, Haillie, Hailea, Hailei, Haeley, Haely, Haelee, Hailley, Haeleigh, Hailly, Haeli, and Hayliee.
Which spelling of Hailey do you prefer? Why?
P.S. Fourteen years later, the entire name-group is not as trendy as it once was. The most popular spelling is still Hailey, though it now ranks 77th. Haley, Haylee, and Hayley are still in the top 1,000, but Haylie, Hailee, Haleigh, Hailie, and Hayleigh have since dropped out.
[Latest update: Jan. 2023]