Given name & surname · also American
Halsey
“a playful woman”·“from Hal's island”
Halsey is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “a playful woman” (American) and “from Hal's island” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a playful woman” (American) and “from Hal's island” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with American and English naming traditions.
How it developed
From Old English hals (“neck of land”), from Old English ieg (“island”).
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Halsey through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 956
- 413 boys · 543 girls
- Most popular year
- 2021
- 51 babies
- 2025
- 35
- #4,105 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +64%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 35 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,105 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 60.3% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 585 as a first name in 2020; 7,344 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Halsey’s family of names
Halsey has a related form in Halcea. Halsey has a related form in Halcee. Halsey has a related form in Halcey.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 26
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Halsey
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Halsey, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Harley
“from the meadow of the hares”
20% boys · 80% girls
Hadley
“from the field of heather” · “from the heather meadow”
1% boys · 99% girls
Harbour
Harbour is a surname with more than one origin.
12% boys · 88% girls
Harlow
“an impetuous woman” · “from the army on the hill”
9% boys · 91% girls
Hallie
“from the hall” · “woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Elsi
Elsi is a feminine given name, possibly from English. It is used in Finnish.
>99% girls
Aava
“open sea”
>99% girls
Haven
“one who provides a safe place” · “one who provides sanctuary; shelter”
9% boys · 91% girls