Calden first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Calden has been for the last 37 years (from 1988 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Calden

Of Old English origin meaning "cold valley".

Popularity of Calden by gender

Based on the last 37 years of data, Calden is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Calden.

Year Male Count Female Count
2024 7 0
2023 5 0
2022 6 0
2020 7 0
2018 6 0
2017 7 0
2015 5 0
2013 6 0
2012 6 0
2011 5 0
2010 5 0
2008 6 0
2007 10 0
2006 5 0
2005 6 0
1988 5 0

The history of the first name Calden

The name Calden is believed to have its origins in the ancient Germanic languages, with roots tracing back to the 5th century AD. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cald," meaning "cold," and the Old Saxon word "denu," meaning "valley." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a cold or chilly valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Calden can be found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a collection of annals that documented the history of the Anglo-Saxons from the 9th century onwards. The name appears in reference to a location or settlement known as "Caldendene," which translates to "the cold valley."

In the 11th century, the name Calden was mentioned in the Domesday Book, a detailed survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the name had gained some prominence and was associated with landholdings or estates during the Norman period.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Calden. One of the earliest was Calden of Lindisfarne, a 7th-century monk and scholar who lived on the island of Lindisfarne, off the coast of Northumbria. He was renowned for his work in preserving and copying ancient manuscripts.

Another notable figure was Calden the Younger, a 10th-century scribe and illuminator who worked at the monastery of Jarrow in Northumbria. His intricate and beautiful illuminations adorned several manuscripts, including the Lindisfarne Gospels.

In the 13th century, Calden of Ely was a prominent English prelate who served as the Bishop of Ely from 1245 to 1253. He was known for his involvement in political affairs and his efforts to defend the rights of the Church against the Crown.

During the Renaissance period, Calden Boccaccio (1472-1538) was an Italian humanist scholar and poet. He was celebrated for his translations of ancient Greek and Latin texts, as well as his own poetic works.

In more recent times, Calden Willingham (1922-2002) was an American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. He is best known for his novels "End as a Man" and "Eternal Fire," as well as his screenplay for the film "The Graduate."

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

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

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"Calden first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on August 2, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/calden-meaning-and-history/.

"Calden first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/calden-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 2 August, 2025

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

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