Holden
Meaningdeep valley · Old English
- US rank
- #297
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #217 in 2018
1,140 babies were named Holden in the US in 2025. It has dropped 70 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 boys, 1902–2025
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 Holden you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 1,498 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Holden, 1,140 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Holden would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryHolden first shows up in US birth records in 1902, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 123 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2018, when it reached #217.
- Then vs nowHolden is 2.5× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 3,727 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 1,498.
- TrendHolden has slipped 70 places over the last five years and now sits at #297. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedHolden is most popular in West Virginia, where it ranks #85, followed by Wyoming (#89) and North Dakota (#120). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Old English, Holden means “deep valley”.
About the name Holden
Holden is a boy name of English origin meaning “deep valley”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with H and ending in “-den”. US birth records list Holden for boys from 1902 to 2025, in 94 of those 124 years. Its best year was 2018, when it ranked #217 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #297, with 1,140 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 5.1 | 196,078 boys |
| 1910s | 3.8 | 263,852 boys |
| 1920s | 6.2 | 161,551 boys |
| 1930s | 3.2 | 310,559 boys |
| 1940s | 2.3 | 442,478 boys |
| 1950s | 2.3 | 438,596 boys |
| 1960s | 3.6 | 276,243 boys |
| 1970s | 2.7 | 367,647 boys |
| 1980s | 28 | 36,193 boys |
| 1990s | 175 | 5,715 boys |
| 2000s | 365 | 2,738 boys |
| 2010s | 697 | 1,434 boys |
| 2020s | 762 | 1,313 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 Holden
What does the name Holden mean?
Holden means “deep valley” in Old English.
What is the origin of the name Holden?
Holden has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Holden a boy or girl name?
Holden is a boy name, though a few girls get it too.
How popular is the name Holden?
Holden ranked #297 for US boys in 2025, given to 1,140 babies. Its best year was 2018 (#217).