Find out how popular the first name Heiden has been for the last 12 years (from 2012 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Heiden by gender

Based on the last 12 years of data, Heiden is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 8 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Heiden.

The history of the first name Heiden

The given name Heiden has its origins in the German language. It is derived from the Old German word "heiden," which means "heathen" or "pagan." This term was originally used to refer to people who followed polytheistic religions or lived in rural areas away from major Christian settlements.

In the early medieval period, the name Heiden was likely used as a derogatory term by Christian missionaries and writers to describe those who had not yet converted to Christianity. As the spread of Christianity progressed across Europe, the name may have been used to identify individuals or communities that still practiced ancient pagan beliefs and traditions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Heiden appears in the 9th-century Latin chronicle "Annales Regni Francorum," which mentions a person named "Haiden" who was a leader of a group of Saxons in what is now modern-day Germany. This reference suggests that the name was in use among Germanic tribes during the early medieval period.

In subsequent centuries, the name Heiden appears sporadically in various historical records and texts. For example, a 13th-century manuscript from the Benedictine abbey of St. Gall in Switzerland mentions a monk named "Heiden von Kempten."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Heiden:

1. Heiden von Bamberg (c. 1030 - c. 1100), a German monk and chronicler known for his work on the history of the Bamberg Cathedral.
2. Heiden von Breslau (c. 1260 - c. 1320), a German theologian and philosopher who taught at the University of Paris.
3. Heiden von Lüneburg (c. 1400 - c. 1470), a German poet and musician who served at the court of the Dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
4. Heiden von Nürnberg (c. 1520 - c. 1590), a German goldsmith and engraver known for his intricate metalwork designs.
5. Heiden von Steinfurt (c. 1580 - c. 1650), a German composer and kapellmeister who worked in the service of various German princes.

While the name Heiden has its roots in the pagan past of Germanic cultures, over time it has lost its original negative connotations and has been adopted as a given name in its own right, particularly in German-speaking regions.

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

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

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