Boy name · Hebrew
Aaron
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: probably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exaltedAaron is a boy's name that comes from Hebrew and means "probably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted". It is used in English, French, German and Hebrew.
- Meaning
- Probably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #80 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Aaron
As a boy's name, Aaron comes from Hebrew and means "probably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted". It is used in English, French, German and Hebrew.
Aaron is also a surname: the 2,412th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 14,733 people. See the most common last names.
Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names
Aaron on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Aaron on 2 lists.
“Probably of unknown Egyptian origin; perhaps high mountain. Brother of Moses and first high priest”
From Biblical names, popular Bible names with debated meanings
“Brother of Moses and Israel's first high priest”
From Priest names, biblical priest names
How popular is Aaron?
- US rank in 2025
- #80
- 4,041 babies, 2,366 per million boys
- Best rank
- #28 in 1994
- Most babies: 15,308 in 1989
- Babies since 1880
- At least 614,462
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 831 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 727 per million |
| 1900s | 773 per million |
| 1910s | 685 per million |
| 1920s | 561 per million |
| 1930s | 447 per million |
| 1940s | 399 per million |
| 1950s | 551 per million |
| 1960s | 1,353 per million |
| 1970s | 6,145 per million |
| 1980s | 7,495 per million |
| 1990s | 6,590 per million |
| 2000s | 4,358 per million |
| 2010s | 3,749 per million |
| 2020s | 2,639 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #49 | #47 | #60 | #61 | #63 | #65 | #71 | #68 | #79 | #80 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Aaron
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- AlonOak tree (Hebrew, boy)
- AltonTown at a river's source (Old English, boy)
- AranFrom the Aran Islands (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- ArranFrom the Isle of Arran (Scottish place name, boy)
- ArunReddish-brown; dawn (Sanskrit, boy)
- AyrtonSettlement on the River Aire (English, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- MiriamForm of Mary, meaning uncertain; perhaps Egyptian beloved (Hebrew, girl)
- ElenaForm of Helen, probably from Greek torch (Greek, girl)
- LilianaLatinate form of Lillian, probably from Elizabeth or Lily (English, girl)
- AlanMeaning uncertain; perhaps little rock, or from the Alans (Brythonic, boy)
- AliHigh, exalted (Arabic, boy)
- AugustExalted, venerable (Latin, boy)
- AthenaMeaning unknown; the Greek goddess of wisdom (Greek, girl)
- AugustoExalted, venerable (Latin, boy)
- BridgetExalted one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- BridieExalted one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- BrigitteExalted one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- BruceProbably from Brix in Normandy (French, boy)
- DeclanMeaning unknown, though likely begins with Old Irish dag, good (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- JacksonFrom a surname meaning son of Jack (English, boy)
Middle names for Aaron
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Hebrew
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- NoahRest, repose (Hebrew, boy)
- EliasMy God is Yahweh (Hebrew, boy)
- GabrielGod is my strength (Hebrew, boy)
- AxelMy father is peace (Hebrew, boy)
- BenjaminSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- IsaacHe will laugh (Hebrew, boy)
- JanGod is gracious (Hebrew, boy)
- JonathanYahweh has given (Hebrew, boy)
- SamuelName of God (Hebrew, boy)
- SimonHe has heard (Hebrew, boy)
- AbelBreath (Hebrew, boy)
- BenSon of the right hand (Hebrew, boy)
- EthanFirm, enduring (Hebrew, boy)
- IbrahimFather of many nations (Hebrew, boy)
- JoelYahweh is God (Hebrew, boy)
Aaron: common questions
What does the name Aaron mean?
Aaron comes from Hebrew and means "probably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted". Checked against Behind the Name.
Is Aaron a boy or girl name?
Aaron is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 17 girls and 4,041 boys in the US were named Aaron, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Aaron come from?
Aaron comes from Hebrew and means "probably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted". Today it is used in English, French, German and Hebrew.
How popular is the name Aaron?
Aaron ranked #80 in the US in 2025, with 4,041 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Aaron?
Names spelled like Aaron include Alon, Alton, Aran, Arran and Arun.
What middle names go with Aaron?
Middle names that flow well with Aaron include Chase, Edward, Howell, Jeremiah and Leander. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.