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Boy name · Irish Gaelic

Caden

Name meaning, origin and popularity

: meaning unknown; sometimes from the Irish surname Mac Cadáin

Caden is a boy's name that comes from Irish Gaelic and means "meaning unknown; sometimes from the Irish surname Mac Cadáin". It is used in English.

Meaning
Meaning unknown; sometimes from the Irish surname Mac Cadáin
Origin
Irish Gaelic
Gender
Boy
US rank
#201 in 2025

Meaning and origin of Caden

As a boy's name, Caden comes from Irish Gaelic and means "meaning unknown; sometimes from the Irish surname Mac Cadáin". It is used in English.

Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names

How popular is Caden?

US rank in 2025
#201
1,742 babies, 1,020 per million boys
Best rank
#91 in 2006
Most babies: 5,055 in 2007
Babies since 1979
At least 72,045
Years with under 5 are not listed
1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s2020s
Babies per million US boys, by decade (the 2020s so far, to 2025). Highest in the 2000s, at 1,840 per million.
Babies named Caden per million US boys, by decade; highest in the 2000s
1880s0 per million
1890s0 per million
1900s0 per million
1910s0 per million
1920s0 per million
1930s0 per million
1940s0 per million
1950s0 per million
1960s0 per million
1970s0 per million
1980s5 per million
1990s146 per million
2000s1,840 per million
2010s1,190 per million
2020s964 per million
US rank by year
Year2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Rank#202#223#237#248#242#230#223#198#211#201

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 Caden

One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.

  • CadeFrom a surname from an Old English nickname meaning round (Old English, boy)
  • CamdenFrom a surname from a place name, perhaps enclosed valley (Old English, boy)
  • CaseyVigilant, watchful (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
  • CadellLittle battle (Welsh, boy)
  • CadfanBattle peak (Welsh, boy)
  • CadocBattle (Welsh, boy)
  • CalebMost likely from Hebrew kelev, dog (Hebrew, boy)
  • CanSoul, life (Persian, boy)
  • CohenFrom a Jewish surname meaning priest (Hebrew, boy)

Names with a similar meaning

  • MiriamForm of Mary, meaning uncertain; perhaps Egyptian beloved (Hebrew, girl)
  • AaronProbably Egyptian, meaning unknown; Hebrew theories say exalted (Hebrew, boy)
  • AlanMeaning uncertain; perhaps little rock, or from the Alans (Brythonic, boy)
  • AthenaMeaning unknown; the Greek goddess of wisdom (Greek, girl)
  • CaraFriend in Irish; beloved in Italian (Irish and Italian, girl)
  • DeclanMeaning unknown, though likely begins with Old Irish dag, good (Irish Gaelic, boy)
  • EvelynFrom a surname derived from the given name Aveline (English, girl)
  • GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
  • JacksonFrom a surname meaning son of Jack (English, boy)
  • KennedyFrom an Irish surname, from Cennétig, armoured or misshapen head (Irish Gaelic, girl)
  • MariaGreek and Latin form of Miriam, of uncertain meaning (Hebrew, girl)
  • NayeliPossibly from Zapotec words meaning I love you or open (Zapotec, girl)
  • NolanFrom an Irish surname derived from nuall, famous, loud (Irish Gaelic, boy)
  • XimenaFeminine of Ximeno, a medieval Spanish name of uncertain meaning (Spanish, girl)
  • AdairFrom a surname derived from Edgar (English, unisex)

Middle names for Caden

Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.

  • ArnoldEagle power (Germanic, boy)
  • DennisOf Dionysus (Greek, boy)
  • EdwardRich guardian (Old English, boy)
  • FlorianFlourishing, blossoming (Latin, boy)
  • HowellEminent, conspicuous (Welsh, boy)
  • JeremiahGod will exalt (Hebrew, boy)
  • JonahA dove (Hebrew, boy)
  • LucianLight (Latin, boy)

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)
  • AidanLittle fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
  • AidenLittle fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
  • AodhFire, flame (Irish Gaelic, boy)
  • AydenVariant of Aidan, little fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
  • BarryFair-haired (Irish Gaelic, boy)
  • BrendanA prince (Irish Gaelic, boy)
  • CassidyCurly-haired (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
  • CodyDescendant of the helpful one (Irish Gaelic, boy)
  • ConanLittle hound or little wolf (Irish Gaelic, boy)
  • ConnorLover of hounds (Irish Gaelic, boy)
  • ConorLover of hounds (Irish Gaelic, boy)
  • DesmondFrom South Munster (Irish Gaelic, boy)

Caden: common questions

What does the name Caden mean?

Caden comes from Irish Gaelic and means "meaning unknown; sometimes from the Irish surname Mac Cadáin". Checked against Behind the Name.

Is Caden a boy or girl name?

Caden is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 10 girls and 1,742 boys in the US were named Caden, according to Social Security Administration data.

Where does the name Caden come from?

Caden comes from Irish Gaelic and means "meaning unknown; sometimes from the Irish surname Mac Cadáin". Today it is used in English.

How popular is the name Caden?

Caden ranked #201 in the US in 2025, with 1,742 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

What names are similar to Caden?

Names spelled like Caden include Cade, Camden, Casey, Cadell and Cadfan.

What middle names go with Caden?

Middle names that flow well with Caden include Arnold, Dennis, Edward, Florian and Howell. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.