Alden is a boy name with a modern feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Alden means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Alden across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Alden has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Alden is a boy name of Old English origin meaning “old friend, wise protector”. An English surname from the personal name Ealdwine.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 19,173 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 206 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 3 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Alden per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 2024 (519/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2022 (24/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2025 (3/yr).
Alden is an uncommon baby name in the United States. It was most common in 2024, when it ranked #1,144 nationally (given to 529 babies that year).
Alton · Eldon · Weldon · Walton · Elden · Aldona · Aldine · Aldena
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