Aidan is a name of Irish origin meaning ‘little fire’ or ‘fiery one’. Derived from the Gaelic name Aodhán, the name is thought to have its roots in Irish mythology and has become popular for its energetic and spirited connotations.
Aidan with an ‘a’ is the English variation of the old Irish names Aedan and Aodhan. The Americanized version of this Gaelic name is spelled with an ‘e’ as Aiden.
There were many kings and saints in ancient Ireland with the name Aodhan. For example, Saint Aidan was believed to be kind yet powerful and is thought to have freed slaves and helped people living in poverty.
- Name Origin: Irish
- Name Meaning: Little fire
- Pronunciation: AY-dən
- Gender: Predominantly male
How Popular is the Name Aidan?
Aidan has its roots in ancient Ireland but remains a popular boys’ name today. Between 1901 and 1990, the name was missing from the top 1000 most popular baby boys’ names. It wasn’t until 1991 that it reentered the chart at #797.
The name has been growing in popularity in recent decades, and according to Social Security Administration data, Aidan was the 286th most popular boys’ name in 2021. It reached its peak popularity position in 2003 when the name was number 39 on the chart.
Nicknames
- Aid
- Dan
- Danny
- Aidey
- Addie
Name Variations
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Adan | Earth / Fire | Welsh |
| Aiden | Little fire | Irish |
| Aido | Fire | Italian |
| Aedan | Little fire / Fiery | Welsh |
| Ayden | Little fire | Irish |
Other Gaelic Boy Names
| Name | Meaning |
| Eoghan | Born of the yew tree |
| Eamon | Wealthy protector |
| Fergus | The strong one |
| Conor | Lover of wolves |
| Niall | Champion |
| Oisin | Little deer |
| Finn | Fair |
Alternative Boys Names Starting with ‘A’
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Abraham | Father of many | Hebrew |
| Adam | Red | Hebrew |
| Ajay | Invincible | Sanskrit |
| Alexander | Defender of men | Greek |
| Ali | Excellent or noble | Arabic |
| Aneurin | Honorable and noble | Welsh |
| Angus | One choice | Gaelic |
Famous People Named Aidan
- Aidan Turner – Irish actor
- Aidan Gallagher – American actor
- Aidan Quinn – Irish actor
- Aidan Baker – Canadian musician