I feel like it goes against the name nerd attitude that I have always had, but I truly love these two names (enough to keep on a short list for the hospital). I admit that I kind of roll my eyes when I hear of another [name_f]Ava[/name_f] or [name_u]Peyton[/name_u] coming into the world and even think “oh, how boring.” I fear that this would be the general reaction to either of these names. I’m not so much in search of a “unique” name but I did think I wanted one that isn’t heard everyday anymore. Growing up a [name_f]Katie[/name_f], I like the idea that my child won’t have the last initial basically as part of her first name. [name_m]Will[/name_m] [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] or [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] always be [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] M. or [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] M.?
Also, there’s the issue of spelling. Normally I am hands down, go with the original. However, with [name_f]Hayley[/name_f], I don’t think many people outside of the Nameberry world would think this is the original (in my area of the US anyway). I’d hate it to be confused with other names that people stick Ys in whenever they can to make it more feminine or unique. Also, my last name ends in Y- think [name_u]McCarthy[/name_u]- and I wonder if that’s a bit Y heavy. I used to prefer the [name_u]Haley[/name_u] spelling and its straightforwardness but worry that it would be mispronounced as [name_u]Halle[/name_u]/[name_f]Hallie[/name_f] (I know I’m in the minority but I don’t care for the sound of [name_u]Halle[/name_u]). And lastly, there’s [name_f]Hailey[/name_f]… I really have no major problem with this one other than that if she is called “[name_m]Hale[/name_m]” or “Hales” for short it would be spelled as “Hail”-- as in the weather element. Which spelling would you recommend?
I don’t have major spelling concerns with [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]… other than another sigh of guilt that lately I have been preferring the “[name_f]Zoey[/name_f]” spelling. [name_m]Just[/name_m] can’t decide whether I could allow myself to divert from the original. Any help or thoughts on either of these two names would be very much appreciated. I’m about 5 weeks from my due date now, and while we don’t know the gender, I’m obsessing over finding girl options that we like (having a very hard time!). Sibling names are [name_u]Mason[/name_u] and [name_f]Brenna[/name_f]. Thank you!!
I’m a [name_u]Haley[/name_u] from [name_f]Canada[/name_f], no one’s ever mispronounced my name as [name_u]Halle[/name_u]/[name_f]Hallie[/name_f] I hate [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] though. [name_f]Hayley[/name_f]'s a much nicer spelling. I definitely prefer that. However, my name’s always misspelled. I get;
I have to admit, [name_f]Hayley[/name_f], [name_u]Mason[/name_u] and [name_f]Brenna[/name_f] sound adorable together! [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] just isn’t my style, and I’ve never liked it. (I don’t like my own name either though, LOL).
[name_f]Hayley[/name_f] would likely be fine. My name was 56th when I was born, and I didn’t have another [name_f]Hayley[/name_f]/[name_f]Hailey[/name_f] in my class until I was 16, and until I’ve only ever met 1 [name_u]Haley[/name_u] where I live.
If you’d like middle name ideas, Mine’s [name_f]Alannah[/name_f] (pn [name_m]Al[/name_m]-on-nah)
I have the same quirk : ) I love the name [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] and [name_f]Ava[/name_f], and plead guilty to [name_u]Halle[/name_u] too (though not enough to ever want to use it). I can’t sympathize with you on [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] though, because all I ever hear is, “Hey, [name_u]Leigh[/name_u]” or “Hey, [name_f]Hayley[/name_f]”, and it reminds me of hay. I also tend to prefer the [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] spelling. Where I live, [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] could be safely qualified as a trendy name (borderline tryndee), but [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] is still -and probably will continue to be- just popular.
As far as [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] goes, I can’t help you there with alternative names, but for [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] I can. The “seventh most popular girl’s name combined with all the alternate spellings” thing made me change my mind about it, so I changed the pronunciation to the [name_m]French[/name_m] one (zo-ay) and decided to put a accent over the ‘e’. But then I decided that it was still the same popular name, and then poof, I found [name_f]Zea[/name_f] (zay-uh); Needless to say, I solved my problem : )
I think we all love a few of those! I used to [name_f]ADORE[/name_f] [name_f]Hayley[/name_f], and still like it very much. I feel like it’s been so overused over so many years though, that it’s lost its lustre. I love [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], though–I love the strangeness in that it feels modern, but it’s been in use for nearly a thousand years, at least! It stems from an actual Greek word, and it’s so sprightly and youthful, but I have known a woman named [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] who is probably in her sixties now, and she wore it so well. I’m intrigued by [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]'s complexity–and I love it in general! I can’t really see me with a [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], but I love it as a middle. I think [name_u]Mason[/name_u], [name_f]Brenna[/name_f], and [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] would be delightful, and there are a lot of Irish middles that would work well with it ([name_f]Zoe[/name_f] [name_f]Moira[/name_f], [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] [name_f]Aoife[/name_f], [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] [name_f]Aislinn[/name_f], [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] [name_f]Fiona[/name_f], etc. I would actually really love to see [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] [name_f]Eilidh[/name_f], but [name_f]Eilidh[/name_f] is Scottish, not Irish, and [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] [name_f]Eilidh[/name_f] [name_u]McCarthy[/name_u] would be a lot of “E”!). I would love to see you use [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]. I really like some of the other options you’d tossed around in the past–particularly [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] and [name_f]Rachel[/name_f]!–though, too.
@lawsonhaley- It’s nice to hear input from an actual [name_u]Haley[/name_u], thank you! I’m surprised to hear that you don’t care for the [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] spelling… in my mind, since that one is the most popular, that would be the safest route with people spelling and pronouncing it right, etc. Very reassuring though that you aren’t ever called [name_f]Hallie[/name_f]! I don’t know what it is about [name_f]Hallie[/name_f]/[name_u]Halle[/name_u], but I have known so many Allies that I guess I just tired of the sound. I’m thinking if I go the [name_u]Haley[/name_u] route, I’ll use [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] as a middle, or POSSIBLY [name_f]Colleen[/name_f]… but thank you for the ideas!
@chrisco- Thank you for the input! I think you are right that [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] is a trendier name, while [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] is just a popular name. l feel like I hear of more little ones named [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] than [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] anymore, though, which brings me back to my [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] M. fear! I appreciate the alternative names, but unfortunately for me, none are satisfying enough to help me throw the others out! I am leaning towards dropping the [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] spelling… like you said, it would be thought of as “tryndee” I think by most, at least where I am from. [name_m]Even[/name_m] as a longtime name nerd, I was even surprised to find that that was the original spelling. Appreciate the feedback
@ashthedreamer- I’m always happy to see when you respond to my posts, ha! I am a fan of your style so I am always interested to see your opinions. Appreciate you remembering my situation and Irish ties, too I’m curious what you make of the spelling dilemma with [name_f]Hayley[/name_f]. If you could get beyond the lack luster of the name (which I totally understand) how would you spell it for your own list? I fear that using [name_u]Haley[/name_u] or [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] is just succumbing to the trend but I really think in real life [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] would just be seen as “kre8tiv.” Being a berry has really clouded my judgement in some ways! Thank you for the feedback on [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], too! I think our middle choices for [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]/[name_f]Zoey[/name_f] would be [name_f]Colleen[/name_f] or [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f]… both Irish and actually have some family significance. I’ve posted countless times throughout this pregnancy so many names that were once contenders are not anymore, including [name_f]Ivy[/name_f] I believe My husband was never big on it and I didn’t know if it was “the one” to fight for. [name_f]Rachel[/name_f] is still on the list though… it’s just missing my ability to commit (maybe that day will still come, though). Thank you again!!
Any other feedback would be greatly appreciated. Particularly how popular you think these names truly are in your area, and what your spelling preferences are. Thank you
I don’t think there is anything to feel guilty about, liking those names.
I’ve known a few little girls of both names, though I have to admit, I find [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]/[name_f]Zoey[/name_f]/etc to be a bit of a name for pets. But that is my own hang up because I’ve know a lot of pets with the name (mostly cats…).
I know one little baby [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] and a few other older girls (I think one of the others is [name_u]Haley[/name_u], but I am unsure how the others spelled it.) It isn’t my style, but is is a nice name.
Maybe instead of [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], use [name_f]Zara[/name_f].
Instead of [name_f]Hayley[/name_f], I’d go with [name_f]Heidi[/name_f]. If you really love [name_f]Hayley[/name_f], then go for it. It’s a cute name.
[name_f]Kate[/name_f] - [name_f]Hayley[/name_f], actually, is my spelling of choice! It’s the only spelling I found that looks semi-normal. Anything besides [name_f]Hayley[/name_f], [name_u]Haley[/name_u], or [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] looks wayyyy too trendy; [name_u]Haley[/name_u] always looked incomplete, and the “I” in [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] never seemed to belong. [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] just works, imo. I didn’t even know it was the traditional spelling–I always thought [name_u]Haley[/name_u] was. I generally spell it [name_u]Haley[/name_u] when someone introduces themselves as such, because I figured that was the most traditional/common, except [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] seems to be more popular these days. But I definitely, definitely prefer [name_f]Hayley[/name_f]! I used to love [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]/[name_f]Hayley[/name_f] [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] [name_f]Grace[/name_f]. [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] is lovely! I like [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] [name_f]Caitlin[/name_f], too, and it’s a variant of [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f].
As for how many I know… I know two Haileys. One spelled [name_f]Haylee[/name_f]; the other I’m not sure how it’s spelled. Either [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] or [name_u]Haley[/name_u], I think? I don’t think I know any Zoes personally. I used to know of someone on another name forum who had a [name_f]Zoey[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f], but that’s it. I think [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]'s adorable.
[name_f]Zoe[/name_f] is fine name. I don’t like [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] (or however you want to spell it) because it’s so worn out and dated. It also completely lacks substance to me.
[name_u]Haley[/name_u] [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] is lovely!
Also, for those of you saying [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] is a trendy spelling, it’s actually the more historic spelling. Actress [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] [name_m]Mills[/name_m] was born in the 1940’s, and her mother’s middle name was [name_f]Hayley[/name_f]. [name_u]Haley[/name_u] was a last name that became used as a spelling in the 70’s, and then [name_f]Hailey[/name_f]. I’d say [name_f]Hailey[/name_f]'s the trendier option, [name_f]Hayley[/name_f]'s the classic option, and [name_u]Haley[/name_u]'s the blah option. (I have a great disdain for my spelling.) I also dislike [name_f]Hallie[/name_f], I just think it sounds ugly LOL. It’s also got the nickname [name_m]Hal[/name_m], which reminds me of an old man, or the dad off of [name_m]Malcolm[/name_m] in the Middle.
Some popularity stats for the [name_f]Hayley[/name_f]/[name_f]Hailey[/name_f]/[name_u]Haley[/name_u] spellings;
[name_f]Hailey[/name_f] - #32 in the US as of 2012
[name_u]Haley[/name_u] - #185 in the US as of 2012
[name_f]Hayley[/name_f] - #463 in the US as of 2012.
that could be different depending on your state, but for the whole of the US, those are the stats.
cough I’m [name_u]Haley[/name_u] cough Definitely agree though, the spelling my mum chose is incomplete, AND the only unisex spelling, thanks a lot [name_u]Haley[/name_u] [name_m]Joel[/name_m] [name_m]Osment[/name_m] -.-
My mum was also considering [name_f]Hayleigh[/name_f], which would definitely be a tryndee/kree8tiv one!
Hmm…
Despite being a name-nerd, I really don’t believe that their is anything wrong with using popular names. The reason why popular names are popular is (normally) because they are gorgeous names that everyone runs too, because the new parents know these names will work and are great choices. I love many popular names!!
However I hate [name_u]Haley[/name_u]/[name_f]Hailey[/name_f]/[name_f]Hayley[/name_f] (I don’t mean to be offensive) it’s just in my eyes unattractive. The best spelling is [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] though, nevertheless, for you guys I would use [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] just because it isn’t so Y heavy.
[name_f]Zoe[/name_f] however is a lovely name. She works with [name_u]Mason[/name_u] and [name_f]Brenna[/name_f]. She has a good sound and feels very sweet. [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] is a spunky choice. I love this name! But please don’t use [name_f]Zoey[/name_f] which is just trashy! Why add an extra ‘y’…?? Doesn’t make sense!
Well to be fair, I love [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] too, it’s one of those names I always loved even before I was ‘in to’ names. It’s actually becoming less popular in the UK now, I think it was more popular for people around my age (20) or a bit older, at least that’s where I usually hear it, though I don’t actually know any Zoes personally. Also, please leave out the Y. It is superfluous. I not massively keen on [name_f]Hayley[/name_f], but then I know several my age so it seems very 90s to me. I actually was surprised when I found out how popular it was is the US. It’s odd the way some trends between here and there are simultaneous, some seem to take a while to pass from one side of the Atlantic to the other and others don’t make it at all. Though I’m not sure why it changed spelling along the way - [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] looks like a description of the weather to me! And I thought you Americans loved all your extra Ys.
Well, as a [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] lover, you have nothing to feel guilty over. However, I do feel very non-name-nerdy for loving it. I mean I love names, and I appreciate unique names on OTHER people, but I can’t choose them for myself, for a variety of different reasons. [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] is a popular, modern-sounding name, but it is a name with a lot of history and the meaning can’t be beat.
Sometimes, I avoid Nameberry because I like popular names, and that’s not a popular thing around here. But many popular names are gorgeous names with history and substance and there is no shame in loving them.
I completely agree with this. I am dismayed whenever I hear/read of a new baby named [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] because, well, what southern maple said. But I’m one who wants interesting names. If you’re not, then it doesn’t matter. [name_f]Hope[/name_f] this isn’t too harsh.
I always thought [name_f]Hayley[/name_f]/[name_f]Hailey[/name_f]/[name_u]Haley[/name_u] was a beautiful sounding name, mostly because of the comet. I prefer [name_f]Hailey[/name_f], only because it’s the most familiar to my eyes (and I kind of like the nickname Hail), but I’m not opposed to [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] or [name_u]Haley[/name_u] - in the end, they all sound the same, and even though I don’t like the Y much, it brings to mind [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] [name_m]Mills[/name_m]. [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] would be fine, and I think it sounds good with [name_u]McCarthy[/name_u] because of the 2-3 syllable combination.
I liked [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] as well - in this case, I would stick with [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] and not [name_f]Zoey[/name_f]. Another unnecessary Y. [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] also sounds good with [name_u]McCarthy[/name_u]. I think [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] [name_f]Colleen[/name_f] [name_u]McCarthy[/name_u] or [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] [name_f]Colleen[/name_f] [name_u]McCarthy[/name_u] are both great, actually! I love that [name_f]Colleen[/name_f] is a nod to your Irish blood. [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], [name_f]Finola[/name_f], or [name_f]Tara[/name_f] ([name_m]TAH[/name_m]-rah) would be great Irish names for the middle.
I live in the Mid-Atlantic, in a large city, and my boyfriend is from [name_m]New[/name_m] [name_f]England[/name_f]. I work in the medical field and I see hundreds of patients every week. I can only think of one [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] and no Zoes; my boyfriend doesn’t know anyway with either name.
I understand what you mean about Nameberry clouding your judgment. I went through a period when I first started reading this site where I was obsessed and paranoid about the popularity of my favorite names. I wanted so badly for none of them to reach the Top 1000. Then, I looked into my own name, and realized that despite the fact that it is an ancient name, and was in the Top 100 the year of my birth (and pretty much the last 30 years), I have only met a handful of women with the same name. One of my best friend’s names was Top 10, and she never had a class in grade school where she shared her name. I realized popularity isn’t such a dire matter, and not all trends are bad. Also, it’s easier to get away with more classic sounding, classically-spelled names, even if it is currently “trendy.” [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] and [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] are far from rubbing elbows with [name_f]Makaela[/name_f] and Brayzden. I also think they have the same feeling as [name_u]Mason[/name_u] and [name_f]Brenna[/name_f] - simple to spell and say, recognizable, they have old origins but are still modern and trendy.
Overall: [name_f]Hailey[/name_f]/[name_f]Hayley[/name_f] gets a yes. [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] gets a yes. [name_m]Both[/name_m] sound good with your surname, and [name_u]Mason[/name_u] and [name_f]Brenna[/name_f]. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t let Nameberry beat you down!
I had a dream about 10 days back that I wanted to name this baby [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]. I think it’s a terrific name with a splendid history of use. I really like St. [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] of [name_m]Rome[/name_m] and learned recently that St. [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] Laboure was born [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]. Too bad dh didn’t have the same dream…
I’ve been considering [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] for my own use recently, much prefer this spelling to [name_f]Zoey[/name_f], the y looks unnecessary to me, everyone knows how to pronounce [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] so it doesn’t need the phonetic Y. Not that big a fan of [name_f]Hayley[/name_f] but prefer this spelling, [name_u]Haley[/name_u] looks incomplete and [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] I just don’t like the look of for some reason - and I agree with you nn Hails is very reminiscent of the weather. I don’t think either are that popular these days and if she’s [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]/[name_f]Hayley[/name_f] X then it’s just luck of the class draw rather than because it’s mega popular.
haha. Totally didn’t mean anything against you. I promise. haha. I figured all the spellings were unisex?! They’re not? I figured because [name_u]Haley[/name_u] was a surname that was the original (like [name_u]Alex[/name_u] [name_u]Haley[/name_u], the author of Roots). Surnames to first names generally translate as masculine, and then they transfer genders and are considered unisex, so I figured [name_u]Haley[/name_u]/[name_f]Hayley[/name_f]/[name_f]Hailey[/name_f] followed that trend, as well. Can anyone explain the true history of [name_u]Haley[/name_u], or [name_f]Hayley[/name_f], or whatever the proper spelling is? I feel completely out of the loop, haha.
I hate [name_f]Hailey[/name_f] though. [name_f]Hayley[/name_f]'s a much nicer spelling. I definitely prefer that. However, my name’s always misspelled. I get;
My husband was never big on it and I didn’t know if it was “the one” to fight for. [name_f]Rachel[/name_f] is still on the list though… it’s just missing my ability to commit (maybe that day will still come, though). Thank you again!!
Definitely agree though, the spelling my mum chose is incomplete, AND the only unisex spelling, thanks a lot [name_u]Haley[/name_u] [name_m]Joel[/name_m] [name_m]Osment[/name_m] -.-