Boy name · Irish Gaelic
Aidan
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: little fireAidan is a boy's name that comes from Irish Gaelic and means "little fire". It is used in English and Irish.
- Meaning
- Little fire
- Origin
- Irish Gaelic
- Gender
- Boy
- US rank
- #326 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Aidan
As a boy's name, Aidan comes from Irish Gaelic and means "little fire". It is used in English and Irish.
In Irish, say AY-dan. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Its meaning puts Aidan on our names that mean fire list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Aidan on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Aidan on 4 lists.
“Little fire; Irish Gaelic. A seventh-century Irish saint”
From Classic boy names, classic Irish, Scottish and Welsh boy names
“Little fire; Irish Gaelic, a monk who brought faith to Northumbria”
From Cute boy names, soft and gentle boy names
“English spelling of Aodhán, little fire. Say AY-dan.”
From Irish boy names, irish boys' names in English spelling
“Little fire; Irish Gaelic, from Aodhán”
From Names that mean fire, irish and Celtic names that mean fire
How popular is Aidan?
- US rank in 2025
- #326
- 1,043 babies, 611 per million boys
- Best rank
- #39 in 2003
- 10,067 babies that year
- Babies since 1936
- At least 118,431
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 1 per million |
| 1960s | 4 per million |
| 1970s | 10 per million |
| 1980s | 25 per million |
| 1990s | 451 per million |
| 2000s | 3,833 per million |
| 2010s | 1,353 per million |
| 2020s | 671 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #191 | #221 | #242 | #243 | #261 | #286 | #296 | #300 | #312 | #326 |
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.
Other forms of Aidan
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
Names spelled like Aidan
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- AdánMan, of the earth (Hebrew, boy)
- AdamMan, humankind (Hebrew, boy)
- AlanMeaning uncertain; perhaps little rock, or from the Alans (Brythonic, boy)
- AbbánLittle abbot (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AldenOld friend (Old English, boy)
- AranFrom the Aran Islands (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- ArdalHigh valor (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ArdenHigh (Celtic, unisex)
- ArmanWish, ideal, hope (Persian, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- KennethAnglicized Coinneach, handsome, and Cináed, perhaps born of fire (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- AodhFire, flame (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- KeeganSon of Aodhagán, little fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- ÁedFire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AgniFire (Sanskrit, boy)
- AodhnaitLittle fire (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- AteşFire (Turkish, boy)
- AzarFire (Persian, unisex)
- BrandSword, fire, torch (Old Norse, boy)
- EldbjørgFire and help (Old Norse, girl)
Middle names for Aidan
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Irish Gaelic
- OscarPossibly deer friend (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- FinnFair, white (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- FergusMan of vigor (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- KevinGentle birth (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- RonanLittle seal (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- RoryRed king (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- BarryFair-haired (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- BrendanA prince (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- CaseyVigilant, watchful (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- CassidyCurly-haired (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
Aidan: common questions
What does the name Aidan mean?
Aidan comes from Irish Gaelic and means "little fire".
Is Aidan a boy or girl name?
Aidan is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 8 girls and 1,043 boys in the US were named Aidan, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Aidan come from?
Aidan comes from Irish Gaelic and means "little fire". Today it is used in English and Irish.
How popular is the name Aidan?
Aidan ranked #326 in the US in 2025, with 1,043 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Aidan?
Forms of Aidan with the same meaning and origin include Aiden (English), Aodhagán (Irish), Aodhán (Irish), Ayden (English) and Egan (English).
What middle names go with Aidan?
Middle names that flow well with Aidan include Benedict, David, Dennis, Harrison and Lincoln. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.