Aldous first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Aldous has been for the last 14 years (from 2010 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Aldous

An Old English masculine given name meaning "old friend".

Popularity of Aldous by gender

Based on the last 14 years of data, Aldous is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 10 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Aldous.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 10 0
2022 13 0
2021 11 0
2020 7 0
2019 11 0
2018 11 0
2017 10 0
2016 13 0
2015 12 0
2014 14 0
2013 6 0
2012 8 0
2011 11 0
2010 8 0

The history of the first name Aldous

The name Aldous originates from the Old English language and can be traced back to the 9th century CE. It is derived from the Germanic elements "ald" meaning "old" and "ric" meaning "ruler" or "powerful". The name was commonly used in Anglo-Saxon England and referred to someone who was an elder or leader within their community.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Aldous can be found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which mentions an individual named Aldous who was a thegn (a nobleman) in the court of King Edward the Elder in the early 10th century. The name also appears in several medieval charters and land records from various parts of England during this period.

In terms of historical figures bearing the name Aldous, one notable example is Aldous Huxley (1894-1963), the acclaimed English writer and philosopher known for his works such as "Brave New World" and "The Doors of Perception". Another significant individual was Aldous Leonard (1911-1986), a British film director and producer who worked on several popular movies in the mid-20th century.

Other historical figures with the name Aldous include Aldous Roger (1915-1999), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for several decades, and Aldous Saunders (1893-1965), an English cricketer who played for Surrey County Cricket Club in the early 20th century. Additionally, Aldous Merwin (1927-2019) was an American poet and environmental activist who won numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 2009.

Throughout its history, the name Aldous has maintained a strong association with intellectual and artistic pursuits, as well as leadership roles within various fields. Despite its ancient origins, the name has endured over centuries and continues to be used, albeit less commonly, in modern times.

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

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

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"Aldous first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 2, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/aldous-meaning-and-history/.

"Aldous first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/aldous-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 2 June, 2025

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

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