Aiden Name Meaning

What Does Aiden Mean?

Looking for a contemporary name for your baby boy? Aiden might be just the right pick for you.

The name Aiden, meaning "little fire," has roots in Irish mythology. In the Gaelic language, Aodh is the name of the Celtic god of sun and fire. Aed is taken from the word Aodh.

The diminutive forms Aedan or Aodhan come from these root words. Aidan is the anglicized version of Aodhan, while Aiden spelled with an "e" is an Americanized variation.

Aodhan was the name of several ancient High Kings of Ireland as well as the name of many notable early Irish saints. One of the most famous is St. Aidan (Naomh Aodhán) of Iona (Scotland), who brought Christianity to the pagan Saxons during the 7th century when he established a monastery in Northumbria (England).

According to tradition, St. Aidan was known as a powerful, compassionate person who freed slaves and helped the poor.

How Popular Is the Name Aiden?

Today, Aiden is a very popular name. However, it was uncommon in America until the early 2000s. The name Aiden did not make it to the top 1,000 names for baby boys in the United States until 1995. At that point, it rapidly increased in popularity, jumping from 937 to its top spot of 9 in 2010.

Aiden broke into the top 100 baby boy names in 2003 and continued to gain steam. Many people attribute this rise in popularity to a television series called Sex and the City which originally aired from 1999 until 2004. The protagonist had a love interest on the show named Aidan.

The name Aiden is now on a slow decline in popularity. In 2020, it was ranked at No. 24.

Although the name Aiden is typically still used as a boy name, there are parents who choose to name their daughters Aiden since sex doesn’t have to be a deciding part of your name selection process.

Its feminine variations also share similar meanings and pronunciations. The name has yet to be ranked in the top 1,000 names in the United States for female births.

Name Variations

Aiden has several spelling variations. It also has variations in several European languages. These include:

• Aeddan, Aedan, Adan (Welsh)
• Aidan, Aden, Aydan, Ayden (English)
• Aidano, Aido (Italian)
  

Similar Sounding Names

Some similar sounding names include:

• Adam
• Adele
• Adrienne
• Cayden
• Dane
• Dean
• Eden
• Ivan
  
• Odin
  

Suggested Sibling Names

Other Gaelic boy and girl names include:

• Allen
• Eileen
• Erin
• Kyle
• Logan
• Kellin
• Reagan
• Rowan
• Ryan
  
• Shannon
• Sullivan
  

Famous People Named Aiden or Aidan

Though it hasn't been popular in America until the past two decades, the name Aiden stretches all the way back to ancient Irish history. As such, there are many European football stars named Aidan while famous American Aidens and Aidans are still rare.

Famous Aidens or Aidans:

• Aidan Gallagher, American actor
• Aidan Gould, American actor
• Aidan McArdle, Irish actor
• Aidan Moffat, Scottish vocalist and musician
• Aiden Moffat, British race car driver
• Aidan O’Kane, European football player
• Aiden Palmer, European football player
• Aidan Prince, American dancer and social media sensation
• Aidan Price, European football player
• Aidan Turner, Irish actor
  

Fictional Characters Named Aiden or Aidan

• Aidan Brosnan, character from television series EastEnders
• Aiden Burn, female character from television series CSI: NY
• Aidan Devane, character from television soap opera All My Children
• Aidan Lynch, character from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Aidan Shaw, character from television series Sex and the City