Total births
2,018
Boys' name · since 1896
Heyward
2,018 babies named Heyward in U.S. Social Security records since 1896, with the highest year being 1928. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 2,018
- total births
- 1896–2023
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 17%
- born in that decade
Heyward is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 2,018 have been recorded since 1896.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Heyward has been recorded 2,018 times among boys since 1896, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1896 to 2023.
- 2,018 total births
- 1896–2023 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 17% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
2,018 boys have been named Heyward since 1896, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2023.
- 2,018
- total births
- 1896–2023
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 17%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
17% of everyone ever named Heyward was born in this single decade.
1928
Single peak year
43 babies were named Heyward in 1928 - its busiest year on record.
Heyward's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Heyward splits its recorded history at 1952: 35% of all births land in the more recent half, 65% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1896 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1928 peak of 43 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Heyward at a glance
Last recorded 2023Peak year
1928
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1896
Heyward popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1896–2023
- Peak year (1928)
- 43
- Annual births at peak, across 128 years of records
Heyward by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Heyward's strongest decade.
343 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 17% of all-time use.
Heyward births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 11
1890s
11 births
- 1900s 45
1900s
45 births
- 1910s
1910s
196 births
- 1920s
1920s
343 births
- 1930s
1930s
330 births
- 1940s
1940s
316 births
- 1950s
1950s
301 births
- 1960s
1960s
195 births
- 1970s 109
1970s
109 births
- 1980s 86
1980s
86 births
- 1990s 35
1990s
35 births
- 2000s 5
2000s
5 births
- 2010s 32
2010s
32 births
- 2020s 14
2020s
14 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 343 births (17% of all-time use).
How Heyward compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Heyward's total volume
Heyward vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Heyward by state
Where Heyward concentrates geographically, total births since 1896
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | South Carolina | | 1,258 | 62.3% |
| #2 | Georgia | | 72 | 3.6% |
| #3 | New York | | 13 | 0.6% |
South Carolina share of Heyward's total US births 62.3%
Even split
1,258 of 2,018 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Heyward? ▼
2,018 babies have been named Heyward since 1896. It was last recorded in 2023. The peak year was 1928 with 43 births.
When was Heyward most popular? ▼
Heyward was most popular in the 1920s decade with 343 total births. The single peak year was 1928.
Where is Heyward most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Heyward are South Carolina (1,258 births), Georgia (72 births), New York (13 births).
How long has the name Heyward been used? ▼
Heyward has been recorded in Social Security data since 1896, spanning 128 years of data through 2023.
What names are similar to Heyward? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Heywood, Heyden, Heyansh, Heydan, and 2 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Heyward's data
- Heyward's decade-level peak was the 1920s (343 total births); usage has since declined to 14 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- South Carolina records the most Heywards (1,258 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. South Carolina names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Heyward
Nearby Names Like Heyward
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Heyward
Heywood Boy
305 births
Heyden Boy
#5783 265 births
Heyansh Boy
#10796 22 births
Heydan Boy
11 births
Heyder Boy
#9866 8 births
Compare Heyward side by side: Heyward vs Heywood Heyward vs Heyden Heyward vs Heyansh
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1896–2023 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Heyward: Baby Name Since 1896 - 2,018 Births, Peak 1928." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/heyward. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Heyward draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.