Boy name · Irish Gaelic
Caden
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: meaning unknown; sometimes from the Irish surname Mac CadáinCaden 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
| 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 | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 0 per million |
| 1980s | 5 per million |
| 1990s | 146 per million |
| 2000s | 1,840 per million |
| 2010s | 1,190 per million |
| 2020s | 964 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.

