Rhyden
A modern English name of unknown derivation, potentially combining elements meaning "river" and "valley".
Name Census estimates that about 87 living Americans carry the first name Rhyden. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Rhyden today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rhyden births was 2016 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rhyden. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Rhyden. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
87
~ 1 in 3,939,705 Americans
Peak year
2016
12 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,648
Tracked since 2009
Popularity
Rhyden: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rhyden from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 52 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Rhyden remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rhyden 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 Rhyden 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 Rhyden
The name Rhyden is of Welsh origin, derived from the elements "rhyd" meaning "ford" and "din" meaning "fort" or "hill." It likely emerged during the medieval period in Wales, reflecting the rugged terrain and defensive settlements of the region.
Variants of the name include Rhyddyn, Rhyddyn, and Rhyddin, all sharing a similar root and meaning. The name may have been initially given to individuals living near a fortified river crossing or settlement located on a hill.
While Rhyden does not appear to have any direct references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is possible that the name was used in local Welsh records and chronicles from the Middle Ages. Unfortunately, many of these historical documents have been lost or poorly preserved over the centuries.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Rhyden are difficult to pinpoint with certainty, as record-keeping practices varied greatly across medieval Wales. However, some notable individuals bearing this name can be found in more recent historical records.
One of the earliest known figures named Rhyden was a Welsh soldier and landowner who lived in the late 16th century. Rhyden ap Rhys (c. 1550 - 1612) was a prominent figure in the region of Powys and is mentioned in several local chronicles and land records from that time.
In the 17th century, Rhyden Jones (1628 - 1701) was a Welsh clergyman and scholar who served as the rector of Llanfyllin. He is remembered for his contributions to the study of Welsh language and literature.
During the 18th century, Rhyden Griffiths (1720 - 1795) was a Welsh poet and writer known for his works in both Welsh and English. His poetry often explored themes of nature and the Welsh countryside.
In the 19th century, Rhyden Davies (1832 - 1901) was a prominent Welsh industrialist and entrepreneur. He established several successful coal mining and iron works operations in South Wales, contributing significantly to the region's economic development.
More recently, Rhyden Williams (1914 - 1998) was a Welsh artist and painter known for his landscapes and portraiture. His works are displayed in various galleries and museums throughout Wales.
While the name Rhyden is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of Wales's cultural heritage, reflecting the country's linguistic and historical roots.
People
Rhyden + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rhyden as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Rhyden: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rhyden?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 87 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rhyden 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 3,939,705 US residents.
Is Rhyden a common name?
We classify Rhyden as "Very Rare". It ranks above 62.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 88 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rhyden most popular?
The single biggest year for Rhyden was 2016, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rhyden is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Rhyden in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Rhyden a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Rhyden 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.
Is Rhyden still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Rhyden in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Rhyden can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Rhyden?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.