Aidan (name)
Aidan, Aiden, or Aedan are the primary anglicisations of the Irish given name Aodhán and the Scottish Gaelic given name Aodhàn.
Etymology and spelling
The name is derived from the name Aodhán, which is a pet form of Aodh. It can be used as a masculine or feminine given name. The personal name Aodh means "fiery" and/or "bringer of fire" and was the name of a Celtic sun god (see Aed).
Formerly common only in Ireland and Scotland, the name and its variants have become popular in England, the United States, and Canada. Aidan has been the 57th most popular name in the United States since the start of the year 2000, bestowed on over 62,000 boys, while Aiden ranking 66th, has been used on over 51,000 boys. Other variants are a bit less popular, such as Hayden 88th, Ayden 189th, Aden 333rd, Aydan 808th, and Aydin 960th, according to the United States Social Security Database. "Aidan/Aiden" was the most popular boys' name in Canada in 2007.
The spellings Aydan, Aydin, or Aden are all more common with Turkish or Arabic origins, and have a different pronunciation.