Aidan Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Aidan is an Irish name meaning 'little fire', derived from the Old Irish 'Aodhán'. It evolved from the ancient Celtic name Aodh, reflecting a connection to the sun and fire. The name gained popularity in the late 20th century due to a resurgence of interest in Irish heritage. Aidan is associated with positive traits and is viewed as a modern, trendy name. There is no biblical relevance to the name.
The name Aidan is most popular in Nevada, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. From 2020-2022, Aidan has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, too rising for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Aidan' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6773rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4682nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2426th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 622nd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 71st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 228th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 12628th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3690th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1586th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6842nd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Aidan' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Aidan"
Pronunciation
/ˈeɪdən/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
The name Aidan is derived from the Old Irish name 'Aodhán', which means 'little fire'. It is a diminutive form of 'Aodh', the name of a Celtic god of the sun and fire.
Meaning
little fire
Language Evolution
Aodh, Aodhán, Aidan
Historical Usage
Aidan became popular in the English-speaking world in the late 20th century, largely due to the revival of interest in traditional Irish names.
Variants & Derivatives
Aiden, Aidan, Aedan, Aedán
Modern Popularity & Image
Aidan is currently perceived as a trendy and modern name, often associated with warmth and creativity. It has been popular in various countries, especially in English-speaking regions.
Famous People
Aidan Quinn, Aidan Turner, Aidan Gallagher
Explore More Aidan Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Aidan"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Aidan"
"Aidan" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 6773rd of 6773 | 5 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 4682nd of 7552 | 42 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2426th of 10718 | 253 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 622nd of 16616 | 3,922 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 71st of 24088 | 93,064 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 228th of 23106 | 20,084 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 12628th of 19264 | 24 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 3690th of 27321 | 422 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1586th of 35406 | 2,066 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 6842nd of 30306 | 207 |
Regional Popularity of "Aidan" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
43.76% 1524th/3483 |
- |
45.99% 1860th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
17.48% 644th/3685 |
8.87% 397th/4475 |
16.33% 848th/5194 |
8.30% 524th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
1.55% 71st/4582 |
0.95% 49th/5164 |
1.20% 88th/7313 |
1.05% 78th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
6.38% 254th/3984 |
3.32% 149th/4487 |
3.77% 257th/6822 |
3.52% 221st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Aidan" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
79.76% 2939th/3685 |
67.62% 3026th/4475 |
94.19% 4892nd/5194 |
64.83% 4095th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
35.51% 1627th/4582 |
31.55% 1629th/5164 |
22.44% 1641st/7313 |
23.01% 1717th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
87.74% 3937th/4487 |
- | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Aidan"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Aidan" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.