Walden Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Walden originates from Old English, meaning 'valley of the ruler'. It has evolved through historical forms, maintaining its connection to nature and leadership. The name is relevant to literature and carries traits of introspection and tranquility. It does not have biblical relevance but gained popularity in the 19th century due to Thoreau's work.
The name Walden is most popular in Kentucky, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Walden has been stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Walden' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1936th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2045th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2506th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4253rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 8634th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 7408th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2924th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Walden' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Walden"
Pronunciation
/ˈwɔːldən/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Walden is derived from the Old English elements 'wald' meaning 'rule' and 'denu' meaning 'valley'. Thus, the name can be interpreted to mean 'valley of the ruler'.
Meaning
valley of the ruler
Language Evolution
Waldena (Old English), Walden (Middle English), Walden (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 19th century, partly due to the influence of Henry David Thoreau’s book 'Walden', published in 1854, which reflects on simple living in natural surroundings.
Variants & Derivatives
Waldon, Waldin
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Walden is often associated with nature, introspection, and literary significance due to its ties to Thoreau. It carries a connotation of tranquility and philosophical contemplation.
Famous People
Henry David Thoreau, Walden Pond, Walden University
Explore More Walden Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Walden"
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 "Walden"
"Walden" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1936th of 7545 | 265 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2045th of 6773 | 237 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2506th of 7552 | 202 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4253rd of 10718 | 95 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 8634th of 16616 | 48 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 7408th of 24088 | 146 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2924th of 23106 | 497 |
Regional Popularity of "Walden" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
84.53% 2000th/2366 |
- |
| 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) |
- |
56.54% 2537th/4487 |
- |
43.34% 2720th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Walden" 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) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Walden"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Walden" 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.