UK boy's name
Hedley
A masculine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a surname or place name.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Hedley is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Hedley popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 9 births.
This profile covers 90 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 56% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 89 living people in the UK are called Hedley. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Hedley ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 9 boys were registered as Hedley.
- • About 89 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hedley as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2008
9 births
Estimated living
89
2026
Meaning
What does Hedley mean?
The name Hedley originates from the Old English language, derived from the words "heah" meaning high and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing in a forest. It is believed to have emerged as a surname during the Anglo-Saxon period in England, referring to someone who lived in a high meadow or clearing.
Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hedley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a great survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as a place name in various counties, such as Hedley in Northumberland and Hedley in Yorkshire.
In the 12th century, the name Hedley is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland, which were records of financial transactions and landholdings. This suggests that the name was well-established in the region at that time.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Hedley was Sir John Hedley, a member of the English gentry who lived in the 14th century. He served as a knight and was involved in military campaigns during the Hundred Years' War between England and France.
In the 16th century, a prominent figure with the name Hedley was Sir John Hedley, a member of the Merchant Adventurers' Company in England. He was engaged in international trade and played a role in the development of the English cloth industry.
Another notable Hedley was Sir Rowland Hedley, a 17th-century English lawyer and judge. He served as a Justice of the Common Pleas and was involved in several high-profile legal cases of his time.
In the 18th century, John Hedley (1730-1795) was a renowned English engraver and printmaker. He is known for his intricate engravings of landscapes and architectural subjects, which were highly sought after by collectors.
Moving into the 19th century, William Hedley (1779-1843) was a pioneering English coal viewer and engineer. He is credited with designing and constructing early steam locomotives, contributing significantly to the development of railways in England.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Hedley, highlighting its rich heritage and connections to various fields and professions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Hedley over time
The chart below shows babies named Hedley registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Hedley, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hedley by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hedley was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3787 | 15 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3336 | 35 | 6 |
| 2000s | #2780 | 31 | 5 |
| 1990s | #2206 | 9 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Hedley
- Harry 141,693
- Henry 65,177
- Harrison 45,958
- Harvey 35,648
- Harley 22,095
- Hugo 18,779
- Hayden 12,622
- Hunter 10,350
- Hudson 9,104
- Hamza 8,564
- Hassan 5,982
- Hasan 3,599
FAQ
Hedley: questions and answers
How popular is the name Hedley in the UK right now?
In 2024, Hedley was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Hedley most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 9 babies registered as Hedley in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Hedley?
A masculine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a surname or place name.
How many people are called Hedley in the UK?
A total of 90 babies have been registered as Hedley across the 16 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.