All about the name
Hiatt
Male
« Hiatt is a rare male first name of American origin, believed to have been created by artist Robert Rauschenberg for his son in the 1960s. Its meaning and origins are uncertain, but it may be derived from the English surname Height or inspired by the nickname Hattie. Despite its rarity throughout history, Hiatt is most famously associated with musician Dave Matthews of the Dave Matthews Band. »
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over 5 years
Meaning, origin, history
Hiatt is a unique and uncommon male given name of American origin. It is believed to have been created by American author Robert Rauschenberg for his son in the 1960s. The meaning and history behind the name Hiatt are not widely known, as it was not derived from any existing names or words.
One theory suggests that Hiatt may be a variant of the English surname "Height," which is believed to have originated from a habitational name for someone who lived in a house or on land near a high place. However, this connection has not been definitively proven.
Another theory proposes that Hiatt may have been inspired by the name "Hattie," which was a popular nickname for female given names such as Henrietta and Harriet in the early to mid-20th century. If this is true, Hiatt could be considered a unisex name or possibly even a variant of Hattie intended specifically for males.
Despite its unclear origins, Hiatt has been used sparingly throughout history. According to some sources, there have only been a handful of individuals named Hiatt recorded in the United States since the 1930s. As such, it remains an uncommon and distinctive name choice today.
In popular culture, the name Hiatt is perhaps best known for being the given name of American musician David Hiatt (better known by his stage name "Dave Matthews"), who gained fame as the lead singer and guitarist of the Dave Matthews Band in the 1990s.
In numbers
Popularity of the name Hiatt since 1880
Total births
34
Total since 1880
Peak year
2008
7 births
in 2020
5
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
+67%
↗
vs previous 5 years