Holden Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Holden originates from Old English, meaning 'from the hollow valley'. It has evolved through various forms, starting from 'Holda' to 'Holden'. The name is associated with themes of strength and individuality. It does not have biblical relevance, but it gained popularity in the 19th century due to literary influences. Variants include Hold and Holt, and its modern perception is that of a classic yet contemporary name.
The name Holden is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest 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 relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Holden has been too rising for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, too falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too falling for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Holden' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3501st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3728th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3577th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4431st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 819th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 378th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 258th out of 23106 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 27321st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 13364th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 7541st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Holden' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Holden"
Pronunciation
/ˈhoʊldən/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Holden is derived from the Old English personal name 'Holda' meaning 'from the hollow valley'. It is also associated with the Old English word 'hold', which means 'to keep' or 'to hold'.
Meaning
from the hollow valley
Language Evolution
Old English: Holda, Middle English: Holden, Modern English: Holden
Historical Usage
The name Holden gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, partly due to its literary associations, including the character Holden Caulfield from J.D. Salinger's novel 'The Catcher in the Rye'.
Variants & Derivatives
Hold, Holt, Holdenby
Modern Popularity & Image
Holden is perceived as a strong and classic name with literary significance, often associated with individuality and introspection.
Famous People
Holden Caulfield (fictional character), Holden McNeil (fictional character), Holden Thorp (American chemist)
Explore More Holden Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Holden"
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 "Holden"
"Holden" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 3501st of 7545 | 87 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 3728th of 6773 | 70 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3577th of 7552 | 95 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4431st of 10718 | 87 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 819th of 16616 | 2,341 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 378th of 24088 | 12,162 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 258th of 23106 | 16,516 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 27321st of 27321 | 5 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 13364th of 35406 | 97 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 7541st of 30306 | 179 |
Regional Popularity of "Holden" 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) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
20.68% 762nd/3685 |
25.90% 1159th/4475 |
13.79% 716th/5194 |
15.17% 958th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
7.16% 328th/4582 |
8.68% 448th/5164 |
4.76% 348th/7313 |
5.98% 446th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
5.25% 209th/3984 |
7.11% 319th/4487 |
3.74% 255th/6822 |
4.91% 308th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Holden" 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) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
82.50% 5628th/6822 |
- |
State-by-State Popularity of "Holden"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Holden" 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.