Aidan Boy

Popularity: #309 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AY-dan /ˈeɪdən/

Origin: Irish; Scottish

Meaning: Irish: 'little fire'; Scottish: 'fiery one'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Aidan has its roots in the Old Irish name "Aodhán," which is a diminutive form of "Aodh," meaning "fire." The name Aodh itself is derived from the Proto-Celtic word "*Aiwos," which also conveys the concept of fire or brightness. As the name evolved, it transitioned through various forms, including the Latinized version "Aidanus," before being anglicized to Aidan in the English language.

The introduction of the name into English can be traced back to the early medieval period, particularly through the influence of Irish missionaries and saints. A significant historical milestone associated with the name Aidan is Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne, who lived in the 7th century.

He was a prominent figure in the Christianization of Northumbria and is credited with establishing the monastery on Lindisfarne, which became a center of learning and spirituality. His contributions to the spread of Christianity in England were recognized in various hagiographies, including those written by Bede in the 8th century.

Saint Aidan's legacy helped solidify the name's presence in the Christian tradition, particularly in regions influenced by Celtic Christianity. Culturally, the name Aidan has been associated with qualities of warmth and light, reflecting its etymological roots in fire.

The name has been embraced in various forms across different cultures, often appearing in variations such as Aidan, Aodhan, or Aidan. Its enduring appeal can be attributed to its historical significance and the positive connotations associated with fire, symbolizing passion, energy, and transformation.

The name's connection to a revered saint further enhances its cultural resonance, making it a name of both historical and spiritual importance.

Famous people named Aidan

In this section, you will find notable people named Aidan. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Aidan who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Aidan who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Aidan Gillen is an actor best known for Game of Thrones, The Wire, and Peaky Blinders.

Aidan Turner is an actor best known for Poldark, The Hobbit, and Being Human.

Fictional characters named Aidan

The following list of fictional characters named Aidan is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Aidan is a fictional character from the TV series Six Feet Under. He is a significant love interest for one of the main characters, Claire Fisher, exploring themes of youth and relationships.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Aidan, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

EthanLiamOwenRyanNoahCaleb

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Aidan. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

BraydenHaydenJadenKadenCadenAidenZaydenRaiden

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Aidan was first seen in the United States in 1936.

Aidan has ranked as high as #60 nationally, which occurred in 2003, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Aidan has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Aidan is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Aidan was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Aidan.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 1,051 1,043 8
2024 1,105 1,098 7
2023 1,113 1,113 0
2022 1,172 1,161 11
2021 1,230 1,209 21
2020 1,356 1,331 25
2019 1,559 1,544 15
2018 1,586 1,571 15
2017 1,755 1,735 20
2016 2,138 2,118 20
2015 2,289 2,265 24
2014 2,301 2,280 21
2013 2,704 2,676 28
2012 3,267 3,225 42
2011 3,774 3,721 53
2010 4,360 4,311 49
2009 5,892 5,811 81
2008 7,830 7,709 121
2007 8,553 8,426 127
2006 10,204 10,035 169
2005 9,915 9,759 156
2004 10,024 9,824 200
2003 10,296 10,067 229
2002 7,145 6,954 191
2001 4,826 4,632 194
2000 3,441 3,296 145
1999 2,348 2,213 135
1998 1,792 1,703 89
1997 1,467 1,382 85
1996 1,163 1,093 70
1995 1,061 973 88
1994 552 517 35
1993 371 332 39
1992 307 269 38
1991 184 167 17
1990 150 134 16
1989 97 81 16
1988 75 54 21
1987 65 52 13
1986 87 71 16
1985 67 54 13
1984 46 34 12
1983 38 28 10
1982 37 28 9
1981 44 35 9
1980 39 28 11
1979 27 21 6
1978 31 31 0
1977 17 17 0
1976 24 24 0
1975 20 20 0
1974 13 13 0
1973 23 16 7
1972 10 10 0
1971 6 6 0
1970 14 14 0
1969 13 13 0
1968 11 11 0
1967 9 9 0
1966 11 11 0
1965 7 7 0
1964 5 5 0
1962 7 7 0
1960 8 8 0
1959 9 9 0
1958 6 6 0
1957 6 6 0
1936 5 5 0

Top States for Aidan (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 142
13%
NY 91
9%
TX 91
9%
FL 67
6%
MI 62
6%
VA 52
5%
PA 48
5%
IL 41
4%
MA 40
4%
NJ 38
4%
GA 31
3%
MD 29
3%
WA 26
2%
NC 25
2%
IN 23
2%
OH 22
2%
CO 19
2%
CT 19
2%
AZ 17
2%
MN 17
2%
MO 16
2%
WI 15
1%
TN 12
1%
UT 12
1%
OR 11
1%
NV 10
1%
IA 10
1%
DC 8
1%
ID 8
1%
RI 7
1%
SC 7
1%
NH 7
1%
KY 6
1%
LA 6
1%
AL 6
1%
OK 6
1%
NE 5
0%
NM 5
0%
HI 5
0%