Aidan Name Meaning

Checking out Aidan name meaning is a must when you want to give your newborn this name.

This guide will give you a full analysis of Aidan’s origin and meaning. In addition, I also include some of the best middle names and sibling names to match. Aidan is a special name, and let’s see how popular it is among parents in the US!

So, if Aidan is in the line-up of potential names for your next child, let’s discover its meaning!

Aidan A Special Name — Is Aidan a special name? Does it sound great for your next kid?

Brief Facts About The Name Aidan

Meaning	Aidan means “little fire” in Irish, Celtic, and Welsh languages.
Origin	Rooted from the name of the Celtic sun god named Aodh.
Pronunciation	ˈeɪdən
Gender	More prominent as a male name.
Popularity	During the early 2000s, Aidan was among the top 50 choices for boy names in the US. However, its popularity has seen a downward trend ever since. Now, it’s currently ranked 286th on the baby name popularity chart.
Variations	Aedan, Aidano, Aidyn, Aydin, Eidan, Eiden, Aiden, Ayden, Aydan, Edan, Eden, Aodhnait.
Nicknames	Addie, Adie, Ade, Dan, Danny, Den, Denny, Dee
Similar Names	Braden, Hayden, Caden, Jayden, Adan, Aodh
Sibling Names	*For Boys: Adam, Brooklyn, Edward, George, Isaiah, Jaden, Jordan, Julian, Michael, Noah, Samuel, Thomas, etc. For Girls*: Aylin, Emily, Emma, Etta, Evelyn, Grace, Hannah, Hazel, Isobella, Lillian, Rebecca, etc.
Middle Names	For Boys: Andrew, Benjamin, Bobby, Curtis, Douglas, Walter, etc. *For Girls*: Harper, Iris, Leigh, Nicole, Stacey, Zoe, etc.

Behind The Name: The Origin And Meaning Of Aidan

Aidan means “little fire”, and is of Irish, Celtic, and Welsh origin. The name pronounces with two syllables, “/ˈeɪdən/”. Aidan is a modern variant of the Scottish name “Aodhan” and the Welsh name “Aeddan”.

This word is also a diminutive form of the Irish word Aodh – a name of a Celtic sun god. Aodh means “fiery” and “bringer of fire”, and therefore, its anglicized name – Aidan – translates to “little fire”.

Aodh is a part of the Celtic god, The Dagda. The sun God fell in love with primal earth goddess Ila and had two children: Kaido (the earth God) and Arudain (the fire God). After their children rose to power, the two parenting Gods disappeared.

This is also the name of a God in the underworld of Irish mythology. Aodh is the eldest son of Lir, High King of the Tuatha de Dannan, and Aoibh, a daughter of Bodb Dearg. The four children of Lir are major mythological figures and are traditionally honored on Celtic wedding rings.

There are also many Celtic gods (and goddesses) bearing this name, which is somehow related to fire, flames, and the sun.

Aidan is derived from an Irish mythological god. Therefore, many Irish boys were given this name to honor the deity. Following the Great Irish migration to the US ⁽¹⁾ and Canada, this name has gained more worldwide popularity.

Is Aidan A Masculine Or Feminine Name?

Due to its origin (derived from a God’s name), Aidan is used predominantly for baby boys. The name is occasionally given to girls. However, Aidan doesn’t make it to the top 1000 names for girls. Other feminine variations of Adian include Aidyn and Ayden.

How Popular Is “Aidan” Over The Years?

Aidan was not a popular male in the past. It was out of the top 1000 names for boys in the US until 1990. Since then, the name’s popularity has grown exponentially to rank 39th in 2003. It is also the highest ranking of the name up to now.

From 2003 to 2010, the name remained in the US’s top 100 mostly-used male names. Yet, according to the Social Security Administration, Aidan fell in ranks in recent years. The name was the 286th most popular masculine name in the US in 2021 ⁽²⁾ .

As a feminine name, Aidan is significantly less popular. As mentioned, it was not in the top 1000 most popular female names within the same timeframe.

Common Variations Of Aidan

The name and its variants are widely used in the US, Canada, England, and Australia. With the letter “a” swapped by “e”, Aiden is the most popular spelling variant of Aidan in the US. Here are other common spelling variations of Aidan:

Aedan, Aidano, Aidyn, Aydin, Eidan, Eiden (Gaelic)
Aiden, Ayden, Aydan (Irish)
Edan (Scottish)
Eden (Hebrew)
Aodhnait (Irish feminine variant)

Aidan’s Nicknames And Similar Names

Aidan already sounds adorable. However, if you want another nice way to call your “little ball of fire”, here are some suggestions for you:

Addie
Adie
Ade
Dan
Danny
Den
Denny
Dee

In addition, many names sound similar to Aidan. They can bear different meanings or have different origins.

Names	Pronunciation	Meaning	Origin
Adan	Ae-den	Earth or fire	Hebrew
Aodh	EE, AY	Fire	Irish, Scottish Gaelic
Braden	BRAY-duhn	Descendant of Bradán	Irish and English
Caden	KAY-dən	Companion, warrior, or son of Cadán	Arabic and Celtic
Hayden	heɪdən	Heathen	Old High German
Jayden	JAY-dən	Thankful or God will judge	English

Recommended Sibling Baby Names

If you’re looking for names for Aidan’s siblings, here are options (and their meaning and related information) you can consider.

For Son

For Aidan’s brothers, mamas and papas may consider these common sibling names.

Adam: This masculine name is derived from the Hebrew word “adama”, which means “soil” or “earth”. In the Bible, Adam is the first man of humankind, created from earth by God.
Anthony: This baby boy’s name comes from the Latin family Antonii. Its original meaning is still a subject of debate. For the time being, the most prevalent meanings are “priceless one” and “highly praiseworthy”.
Brooklyn: Brooklyn is of English origin and means “one who lives near a brook”, or “beautiful brook”. Otherwise, if your son is born in Brooklyn, this name can also be given to honor his birthplace.
Edward: Edward is a given name that comes from two old English elements, “ead” and “ƿeard”. “Ead” means “wealth”, “fortune”, and “prosperous”, whereas “ƿeard” means “protector” and “guardian”. The complete meaning of Edward is “wealthy guardian”.
George: This masculine name is rooted in the Greek Geōrgios. The meaning is “farmer”.
Isaiah: This is a biblical male name. Isaiah is rooted in the word יְשַׁעְיָהוּ‎, Yəšaʿyāhū, which translates to “Yahweh is salvation”, or “salvation of the Lord”.
Jaden: Rooted in Hebrew, this boy’s name is “God has heard”. It can also be used as a girl’s name or a surname.
Jordan: Jordan is also a common biblical boy name (biblical boy name). The meaning is “to go down”. This phrase refers to when John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River in the Bible.
Julian: Julian is a male name with Latin roots. The meanings are “youthful”, “juvenile”, and “shiny”.
Michael: “Who is like God” and “gift from God” are the meanings of this Hebrew-origin name.
Nathan: Kids named Nathan should be a treasure to their parents. The word means “He has given” or “Gift of God”.
Noah: Originating from the Hebrew word “noach”, Noah means “repose” or “rest”.
Samuel: “God heard” or “name of God” are the meanings behind this masculine name.
Thomas: Thomas is a Greek name that means “twin”.

For Daughter

A meaningful name will be adored by your baby girls. Here are some recommendations for naming a sister of Aidan.

Aylin: In Turkish, Aylin translates to “of the Moon” or “Moon halo”.
Emily: Emily is derived from the Roman family name Aemilius. Its prevailing meaning is “rival”.
Emma: This Germanic-rooted name means “universal”. The most famous bearer is perhaps Queen Emma of Normandy. Hence, Emma is considered a royal and elegant feminine name and has been used throughout the centuries.
Etta: Brimming with power, Etta is meant for little rulers. This female name means “the ruler of the house”.
Evelyn: This name has mixed origins. In English, Evelyn translates to “island” or “desired”. It’s also associated with the French name “Aveline”, meaning “wished for”.
Grace: This word is a Latin-origin name meaning “favor” or “blessing”.
Hannah: This is a Hebrew-rooted name and means “favor” or “grace”.
Hazel: Originated in English, Hazel means “hazel tree”. The name also signifies the hazel color. Occasionally, parents choose the name for their kids who have hazel eyes.
Isobella: Isobella is another name rooted in Hebrew. The dominant meanings include “God is perfection”, “God is my oath”, and “God’s promise”.
Lillian: This name is derived from the Latin word “Lilium”, which means the flower lily. The flower symbolizes “purity” and “love”.
Rebecca: Rebecca originates from the word רבק (rbq). The Hebrew translation is “to tie firmly”. In the Hebrew Bible, Rebecca is the wife of Isaac and the mother of Jacob and Esau.

Middle Names To Match

This list is a mix of modern and classic names that are sure to pair well with the given name Aidan.

For Son

Congratulations, if you’ve already picked “Aidan” as a given name for your boy. The next step is to pick the best middle name to pair excellently with it. Below are some nice suggestions:

Andrew: If you want a strong baby boy’s name, use Andrew as a middle name. This Greek name means “strong”, “manly”, and “brave”.
Benjamin: In Arabic and Hebrew, Benjamin translates to “son of the right hand”. Benjamin was the twelfth and youngest son of Jacob and Rachel in the Bible.
Bobby: This has been a favorite name since the Middle Ages, with the meanings of “bright”, ‘famed”, and “shining”.
Curtis: Curtis has an Anglo-Norman root and charming meanings: “polite” and “courteous”.
Douglas: Douglas is a primarily masculine name with a Scottish origin. It means dark stream. There are open interpretations of this meaning: mysterious, dangerous depths of water, or unknown secrets.
Walter: The name is derived from two Germanic elements: “wald” meaning “power” and “hari” meaning “warrior”. What are your expectations when naming your kids a word meaning “powerful warrior”?

For Daughter

Aidan is rarely used for girls, but it’s also a fantastic name, especially when you pair it right with the middle name. Scroll down for the best girl’s middle names for Aidan:

Harper): Harper comes from an occupational name. This is a surname for harpists (harp players) in Medieval England. So, this name means “harp players” in modern times. It’s a lovely choice for a baby born into a musical family.
Iris: Iris originated from the same Greek word “Iris” – the name of the goddess of the rainbow in Greek mythology. Thus, this name translates to “rainbow”.
Leigh: This feminine name carries two meanings: “delicate” and “meadow”.
Nicole: This Greek-origin name has two components: “nikē” meaning “victory”, and “laos” meaning the “people”. Therefore, the ultimate interpretation of Nicole is “the victory of the people”.
Stacey: This is another Greek-rooted female name. The name’s meanings are “fruitful” and “resurrection”.
Zoe: The name “Zoe” has a Greek origin and means “life”. It’s a favorite name among parents in various nations, like Australia, Ireland, Canada, France, Hungary, Belgium, and more.

Fictional Characters With The Name Aidan

You might occasionally come across Aidan in pop culture. Here are many examples that the name is used in soap operas, TV series, or many other artworks.

Aidan: a character in Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus.
Aidan Brosnan: a popular character from EastEnders – a BBC soap opera in 1993.
Aidan Devane: fictional character in the ABC soap opera All My Children (interestingly portrayed by Aiden Turner).
Aidan Foster: a character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours.
Aidan Keller: character in the horror movie The Ring and its sequel, The Ring Two.
Aidan Lynch: Irish wizard from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling.
Aidan Shaw: boyfriend of Carrie Bradshaw – the lead character in the TV show Sex and the City.
Aidan Waite: a character from the TV show Being Human.

Notable Celebrities With The Name Aidan

Aidan is mostly used as a given name, and there are many celebrities bearing this name. Its popularity in the US has just risen over the past two decades.

For this reason, there are only a few famous Americans named Aidan. Yet, you can easily find many famous Irish people who bear this name.

Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne (590-651): Irish monk and missionary famed for converting Anglo-Saxons to Christianity in Northumbria ⁽³⁾.
Aidan de Brune (1874-1946): Australian journalist and author.
Aiden Byrne (born 1972): English chef.
Aidan Gallagher (born 2003): American musician and actor.
Aidan Gould (born 1997): American actor – the elder brother of the actor Nolan Gould.
Aidan McArdle (born 1970): Irish actor
Aidan Moffat (born 1973): Scottish singer and songwriter.
Aidan O’Kane (born 1979): Retired Irish footballer.
Aidan O’Rourke (born 1975): Scottish contemporary folk music fiddle player and composer.
Aidan Price (born 1981): Irish footballer and coach.
Aidan Prince (born 2006): American dancer, Youtuber, and social media celebrity.
Aidan Quinn (born 1959): Irish-American actor.
Aidan Turner (born 1983): Irish actor.
Aidan Walsh (born 1997): Irish boxer

FAQs

Regarding the meaning and usage of Aidan, here are some commonly asked questions. Let’s look to ensure this is the perfect fit for your child.

In general, Aidan is a good name. Many people perceive the name as good, strong, masculine, and wholesome. In addition, there are many variations of the name, which means that Aidan is positively received overall.

Aidan was very popular in the early 2000s. In 2003, for example, there were 10067 baby boys named Aidans – nearly 0.5% of male births.

Despite its decreased popularity in recent years (286th 2021), its lovely sound and meaning will surely be adored by your little angels.

Yes, Aidan is a gender-neutral name. Nevertheless, it’s more widely used as a boy’s name. This is proven by the male-dominant list of celebrities right above. Baby girls are sometimes given this name or feminine variants like Aidyn or Ayden.

Aiden (with an “e”) is more widely used in the US. The latest Social Security statistics show that the name has been constantly in the top 50 choices for boy names since 2005.

Irish actor Aidan Turner and Irish-American actor Aidan Quinn are perhaps the most well-known “Aidans” right now.

Does Aidan Sound Like A Good Choice For Your Baby?

With the means related to one of life’s essential elements – fire, Aidan has a charm on its own. While Aidan is not a very common name right now, the interesting origin, meaning, and sound make it a nice consideration.

If there’s any concern about this name, feel free to drop it in the comment box below. Click the like and share button if you feel this name analysis is helpful to you and other parents-to-be!

References

lov.gov. 2022. Irish-Catholic Immigration to America
ssa.gov. 2022. The Popularity Of A Name
britannica.com. 2022. Saint Aidan bishop of Lindisfarne

Helen Doanna

Editor in Chief, Educational Specialist, and Senior Content Creator

Expertise

Child Development Specialist, Child-care Coordinator, Family Support Specialist, Content Writer, Communications Specialist, Educational Consultant, STEAM Teacher

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1. University of Social Science and Humanity, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Program: Bachelor’s degree in Faculty of Literature and Journalism
Focus: In-depth knowledge of Literature, knowledge and skills to perceive, create literature or work in related fields; Basic knowledge of communications.

2. University of Social Science and Humanity, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Program: Bachelor’s degree in Education Faculty
Focus: Core knowledge of social sciences and humanities – the root for the development of progressive values of education, Multicultural communication in education, Contemporary education in the context of globalization, Learning in the digital technology era, Basic issues of STEAM education, Classroom Management, Special education.

3. Oregon State University, Oregan, US

Program: Bachelor’s degree in Faculty of Human Development and Family Sciences – Child Development
Focus: Different stages of development, from infancy to adulthood; Develop a strong foundation for a career in early childhood programs or classrooms; Learn strategies for supporting young children’s development in early childhood settings.

Helen is an experienced educational specialist and content creator, known for her innovative approach to children’s learning. With a background in literature and child development, she composes engaging educational content for SimpleKids.net. Her work emphasizes creativity, engagement, and simplicity, aiming to make learning enjoyable and accessible for children and their families.