Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Aidan
BoyIrish· “little fire”
- Meaning
- little fire
- Origin
- Irish
- Pronunciation
- AY-dihn
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #326
- US babies 2025
- 1,043
- Best rank
- #39 (2003)
- Peak year
- 2003
Meaning and origin of Aidan
Aidan is an Irish name that means “little fire”.
Aidan is the anglicized form of the Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh, meaning fire. Aodh was a popular name among early Irish kings, and Saint Aidan, an Irish monk from Iona, founded the monastery of Lindisfarne in the seventh century and helped spread Christianity in Northumbria. The name stayed mostly Irish for centuries before becoming widely used in the United States and Britain. Its warm meaning and gentle sound inspired a whole family of rhyming names. Aiden is the most common alternative spelling, and Ayden and Aydan are also seen.
Famous parents who chose Aidan: Jennifer Love Hewitt and Brian Hallisay (2021). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Aidan first appears in US Social Security records in 1936. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 36 different years, starting in 1990. Its best national rank was #39 in 2003, the same year it reached its highest count of 10,067 babies. In 2025, 1,043 babies were named Aidan, and it ranked #326 nationally. That is 54% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,965 in 1980, #114 in 2000, #94 in 2010, and #326 in 2025. Of the 118,431 US boys named Aidan since records began, 65% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 25,446 babies. Since 2010, 32,401 more have been named Aidan.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Connor, Caleb, Jose, Nathaniel, and Jesus.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Aidan ranked highest in District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | #121 | 7 |
| Massachusetts | #141 | 51 |
| Connecticut | #155 | 23 |
| Rhode Island | #156 | 7 |
| New Jersey | #199 | 49 |
Gender, sound and spelling
About 99% of US babies named Aidan over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Aidan is usually pronounced AY-dihn, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with A and ends in “-an”.
Middle names for Aidan
A few middle names that flow with Aidan: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Aidan
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Lists that include Aidan
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Aidan mean?
Aidan is an Irish name that means “little fire”.
What is the origin of the name Aidan?
Aidan has Irish roots. Aidan is the anglicized form of the Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh, meaning fire.
Is Aidan a popular name?
Yes. Aidan ranked #326 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Aidan a boy or girl name?
Aidan is mainly a boy's name. About 99% of US babies named Aidan over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Aidan?
Aidan is usually pronounced AY-dihn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings