Alden
Meaningold friend · Old English
- US rank
- #598
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #426 in 1911
479 babies were named Alden in the US in 2025. It has climbed 74 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1924–2025
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Alden you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Alden
Alden Ehrenreich
American actor
Choose Alden and your child shares a first name with Alden Ehrenreich, an American actor. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Alden, like who?” Alden Ehrenreich's Wikipedia article is available in 38 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Alden Ehrenreich on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)- How commonAbout 1 in every 3,566 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Alden, 479 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Alden would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryAlden has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Aldens, and counting.
- Best yearIts best year was 1911, when it reached #426.
- Then vs nowAlden is 3.0× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 10,560 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 3,566.
- TrendAlden has climbed 74 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #598. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedAlden is most popular in Maine, where it ranks #101, followed by New Hampshire (#157) and Montana (#227). It's in the top 1,000 in 34 states.
- MeaningIn Old English, Alden means “old friend”.
About the name Alden
Alden is a boy name of English origin meaning “old friend”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with A and ending in “-den”. US birth records list Alden for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1911, when it ranked #426 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #598, with 479 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 0.7 | 1,500,000 girls |
| 1930s | 0.6 | 1,724,138 girls |
| 1950s | 1.0 | 970,874 girls |
| 1970s | 1.8 | 564,972 girls |
| 1980s | 5.4 | 185,529 girls |
| 1990s | 10 | 97,847 girls |
| 2000s | 15 | 65,317 girls |
| 2010s | 11 | 89,767 girls |
| 2020s | 14 | 69,525 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 71 | 14,160 boys |
| 1890s | 82 | 12,179 boys |
| 1900s | 116 | 8,610 boys |
| 1910s | 171 | 5,832 boys |
| 1920s | 159 | 6,300 boys |
| 1930s | 122 | 8,183 boys |
| 1940s | 73 | 13,768 boys |
| 1950s | 47 | 21,455 boys |
| 1960s | 37 | 26,802 boys |
| 1970s | 30 | 33,245 boys |
| 1980s | 43 | 23,132 boys |
| 1990s | 68 | 14,804 boys |
| 2000s | 114 | 8,783 boys |
| 2010s | 184 | 5,440 boys |
| 2020s | 254 | 3,939 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Alden
What does the name Alden mean?
Alden means “old friend” in Old English.
What is the origin of the name Alden?
Alden has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Alden a boy or girl name?
Alden is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Alden?
Alden ranked #598 for US boys in 2025, given to 479 babies. Its best year was 1911 (#426).