Aaron first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Aaron has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Aaron

A masculine Hebrew name meaning "high mountain" or "exalted".

Popularity of Aaron by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Aaron is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Aaron being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 4,551 male babies and 5 female babies born with the name Aaron.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby girls were named Aaron in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 4,551 5
2022 4,496 11
2021 4,843 16
2020 5,087 9
2019 5,534 20
2018 5,986 15
2017 7,212 20
2016 7,172 23
2015 7,172 20
2014 7,408 24
2013 7,315 11
2012 7,538 21
2011 7,619 21
2010 7,465 23
2009 7,979 32
2008 8,543 29
2007 8,943 23
2006 8,305 24
2005 7,807 25
2004 8,397 57
2003 8,873 38
2002 9,007 42
2001 9,550 37
2000 9,561 35
1999 9,859 50
1998 10,549 59
1997 11,170 68
1996 11,971 80
1995 13,290 85
1994 14,386 105
1993 13,832 108
1992 14,509 91
1991 14,241 102
1990 14,552 84
1989 15,314 99
1988 14,406 131
1987 12,685 143
1986 12,689 134
1985 13,139 139
1984 13,405 135
1983 14,461 172
1982 14,407 152
1981 14,696 153
1980 13,171 173
1979 13,074 144
1978 12,305 155
1977 11,632 146
1976 11,343 154
1975 10,549 122
1974 10,511 89

The history of the first name Aaron

The name Aaron has its origins in the Hebrew language and is derived from the word "Harun" or "Aharon". It is believed to have been first used in ancient Israelite culture, dating back to around the 13th century BCE. The meaning of Aaron is often interpreted as "high mountain" or "exalted".

One of the earliest and most notable references to the name Aaron is found in the Hebrew Bible, where it is the name of the older brother of Moses. Aaron is portrayed as the first High Priest of the Israelites and a central figure in the Exodus narrative. This association with an important biblical figure likely contributed to the name's enduring popularity among Jewish and Christian communities.

The name Aaron also appears in various other ancient texts, including the Quran, where it is mentioned as the name of a prophet and the brother of Moses. This further reinforced its significance in the Islamic tradition.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Aaron dates back to the 2nd century BCE, found in the Book of Enoch, an ancient Jewish religious text. Throughout history, the name has been borne by several notable individuals, including:

  1. Aaron of Alexandria (c. 570 CE - c. 630 CE), a Christian philosopher and theologian who played a significant role in the development of early Christian thought.
  2. Aaron ben Samuel (c. 1300 CE - c. 1370 CE), a Jewish astronomer and mathematician from Spain, known for his contributions to the field of astronomy.
  3. Aaron Burr (1756 - 1836), an American politician and lawyer who served as the third Vice President of the United States under Thomas Jefferson.
  4. Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990), an American composer and conductor, known for his distinctive style and contributions to American classical music.
  5. Aaron Spelling (1923 - 2006), an American film and television producer, best known for creating popular TV series like "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Melrose Place".

The name Aaron has maintained its popularity across various cultures and time periods, thanks to its strong historical and religious significance. Its enduring presence serves as a testament to the rich cultural heritage and traditions from which it originated.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Aaron was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Aaron, please contact us.

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"Aaron first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 6, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/aaron-meaning-and-history/.

"Aaron first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/aaron-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 6 December, 2024

Aaron first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/aaron-meaning-and-history/.

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