Alden

Alden - A very unique male name

Alden appeared on the charts for the first time in 1911 on position #429. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Alden and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Alden? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Alden. The baby boy name Alden was given to 439 baby boys in 2025, ranking #601 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 3,340 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Alden peaked in popularity 115 years ago in 1911 on position 429.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Alden, 1-5?

Alden is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Alden is currently topping the baby name charts in Maine at position #101 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #1,058.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Alden is where you live.

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Alden origin and meaning

English, from an Old English personal name via a surname

'Old friend' — from Old English eald, 'old', and wine, 'friend'

Alden comes from the Old English name Ealdwine, 'old friend', which survived as a surname — most famously John Alden of the Mayflower — before returning as a given name. Quiet for a century, it reached its highest US use yet in 2024 as parents rediscover soft, old Anglo-Saxon names.

Attested etymology

Alden is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Alden, pop culture references for the name Alden and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Alden

We've found the following names that sound similar to Alden, sorted by popularity.

Alton / Aldin / Aldon / Ailton / Aldean / Altin / Aldine / Altonio / Aladdin /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Alden

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Alden a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Alden?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

AWL-dun · /ˈɔːldən/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Elden — A related form from the same Old English stock.

Famous bearers

• Alden Ehrenreich — Actor, star of Hail, Caesar! and Solo: A Star Wars Story (b. 1989) Contemporary

Style

SurnameVintage revivalClassic

Why parents choose it

Parents like Alden for its gentle, bookish feel — old without being dusty, and still uncommon.

Worth knowing

• It is sometimes misheard as Holden, Aidan or Aldan, and misspelled with an -on ending.