Cadan
Of Celtic origin, a masculine name meaning "spirit of battle".
Name Census estimates that about 319 living Americans carry the first name Cadan. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Cadan today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cadan births was 2007 (31 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cadan. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
319
~ 1 in 1,074,465 Americans
Peak year
2007
31 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2021 SSA rank
#11,002
Tracked since 1997
Popularity
Cadan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cadan from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 183 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cadan by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Cadan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Cadan
The name Cadan has its origins in the Welsh language and culture, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Welsh word "cad," which means "battle" or "conflict," suggesting a connection to ancient Welsh warriors or military leaders.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cadan can be found in the Welsh Triads, a collection of traditional stories and legends from the Middle Ages. In these texts, Cadan is mentioned as the name of a legendary figure, though the details surrounding this individual are scarce.
In the 12th century, a prominent Welsh historian and scholar named Cadan ap Iorwerth ap Cadwgan was born. He is known for his work in chronicling the history and genealogies of Welsh noble families during that time period.
During the 14th century, a Welsh poet named Cadan Fardd lived and composed works that celebrated Welsh culture and traditions. His poetry is considered an important contribution to the preservation of the Welsh language and literary heritage.
In the 16th century, a notable Welsh landowner and nobleman named Cadan ap Rhys ap Gruffydd was born. He played a significant role in the political and social affairs of his time, serving as a member of the Council of Wales and the Marches.
In more recent history, Cadan Pearce was a Welsh rugby union player who represented Wales in the early 20th century. He was born in 1882 and played as a forward for several Welsh clubs, including Cardiff RFC and Swansea RFC.
While the name Cadan has deep roots in Welsh history and culture, it has remained relatively uncommon in modern times, preserving its unique and distinctive character.
People
Cadan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cadan as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Cadan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cadan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 319 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cadan going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,074,465 US residents.
Is Cadan a common name?
We classify Cadan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 322 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cadan most popular?
The single biggest year for Cadan was 2007, when 31 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cadan is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Cadan a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cadan in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.