Alden first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Alden

An Old English name derived from an elements meaning "elf" and "valley".

Popularity of Alden by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Alden is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 92% of people named Alden being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 431 male babies and 25 female babies born with the name Alden.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 25 baby girls were named Alden in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 431 25
2022 443 19
2021 391 31
2020 386 21
2019 435 15
2018 410 20
2017 409 22
2016 391 16
2015 340 16
2014 337 20
2013 331 19
2012 294 26
2011 244 16
2010 251 25
2009 242 19
2008 222 28
2007 275 28
2006 249 31
2005 258 23
2004 257 41
2003 251 37
2002 178 25
2001 159 25
2000 186 26
1999 144 27
1998 196 25
1997 143 16
1996 143 18
1995 142 17
1994 116 18
1993 100 22
1992 116 18
1991 91 13
1990 119 9
1989 92 11
1988 94 19
1987 84 6
1986 92 6
1985 86 13
1984 79 14
1983 68 9
1982 84 7
1981 64 8
1980 57 0
1979 57 6
1978 53 5
1977 48 8
1976 43 0
1975 54 8
1974 44 0

The history of the first name Alden

The name Alden is of Old English origin, derived from the elements "ald" meaning "old" and "dun" meaning "hill" or "down." It was a surname that developed into a given name over time.

The name was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England. It appeared as a locational surname referring to someone from a place called Alden or Aldun.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Alden was John Alden, a crew member on the Mayflower and one of the Pilgrim founders of the Plymouth Colony in 1620. He married Priscilla Mullins and is considered a crucial figure in the establishment of the colony.

Another notable Alden was Henry Mills Alden, an American editor and writer who served as the managing editor of Harper's Magazine from 1869 to 1919. He was born in 1836 and played a significant role in the magazine's success during his tenure.

Alden Partridge, born in 1785, was a pioneer in American military education and the founder of Norwich University, the oldest private military college in the United States. He also authored several works on military tactics and strategy.

In the field of literature, Alden Nowlan was a celebrated Canadian poet and novelist known for his works depicting the lives of working-class people in the Maritimes. He was born in 1933 and received numerous literary awards, including the Governor General's Award.

Alden Biesen, born in 1974, is a Dutch actor and filmmaker who has appeared in several successful television series and films in the Netherlands and Belgium. He is known for his versatility and ability to portray diverse characters.

While the name Alden has its roots in Old English, it has transcended its geographical origins and has been adopted by various cultures and communities around the world, often maintaining its association with antiquity and tradition.

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 Alden was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Alden first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/alden-meaning-and-history/.

"Alden first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/alden-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

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

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