Alden
Alden as both a given name and a surname originated in the Old English language. The name can derive from Ealdwine or from Healfdene.
Meaning & Origin of Alden
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Alden as both a given name and a surname originated in the Old English language. The name can derive from Ealdwine or from Healfdene.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Alden
Alden first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1880, with 9 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 503 Aldens were born — ranking #576 that year. As of 2026, Alden ranks #576 for baby boys with 503 births, rising sharply (+16% over the past five years). In total, more than 19K Aldens have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Alden
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Alden Aaroe (1918–1993), American broadcast journalist and announcer
- Alden Anderson (1867–1944), American politician
- Alden G. Barber (1919–2003), American scouting executive
- Alden Brock ( c. 2002–2015), American flooding victim
- Alden Brown (born 1957), also known as Peter North, Canadian pornographic actor, film director, and film producer
- Alden Carter (born 1947), American author
- Alden W. Clausen (1923–2013), American businessman
- Alden Partridge Colvocoresses (1918–2007), American military officer and cartographer
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Alden
Phonetically similar names — useful when Alden is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Alden
What does the name Alden mean?
How popular is Alden in 2026?
When was Alden most popular?
In which U.S. states is Alden most popular?
Is Alden a unisex name?
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About the name Alden
Alden is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 19K births in the dataset. Alden's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #426. Use the chart and map above to compare Alden's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "A" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.