Unisex · #1,184 in 2026

Cadence

Cadence or Kaydence is a feminine given name derived from the English word cadence, from the Latin for "a falling". The meaning of this name is considered to be "rhythm" from the borrowed use from musical terminology to describe rhythm in the spoken word.

Current Rank
#1,184
Peak Rank
#199 (2007)
Total Babies
23K
5-Yr Trend
-54%
👧 Girl peak #199 (23K total)
👦 Boy peak #1,527 (2K total)
👧As Girl Name
1974
First Year
2026
Last Year
2007
Peak Year
#199
Peak Rank
23K
Total Count
52
Years Active
👦As Boy Name
1992
First Year
2026
Last Year
2023
Peak Year
#1527
Peak Rank
2K
Total Count
34
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Cadence

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Cadence or Kaydence is a feminine given name derived from the English word cadence, from the Latin for "a falling". The meaning of this name is considered to be "rhythm" from the borrowed use from musical terminology to describe rhythm in the spoken word.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Cadence

As a girl name

Cadence first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1974, with 10 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2007, when 1,707 Cadences were born — ranking #199 that year. As of 2026, Cadence ranks #1,184 for girls with 202 births, falling sharply (-54%). In total, more than 23K Cadences have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Cadence first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1992, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 115 Cadences were born — ranking #1,527 that year. As of 2026, Cadence ranks #1,788 for boys with 92 births, holding steady (+2%). In total, more than 2K Cadences have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Notable people named Cadence

A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.

  • Cadence Weapon , Canadian rapper
  • Cadence Spalding , American educator and musician
  • Cadence Brace , Canadian tennis player

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Names that sound like Cadence

Phonetically similar names — useful when Cadence 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 Cadence

What does the name Cadence mean?
Cadence or Kaydence is a feminine given name derived from the English word cadence, from the Latin for "a falling". The meaning of this name is considered to be "rhythm" from the borrowed use from musical terminology to describe rhythm in the spoken word.
How popular is Cadence in 2026?
In 2026, Cadence ranks #1,184 among girls' names in the U.S., with 202 babies given the name that year.
When was Cadence most popular?
Cadence reached its peak popularity in 2007, ranking #199 that year with 1,707 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Cadence most popular?
Cadence has historically been most popular in Alaska, Montana, Maine. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Cadence.
Is Cadence a unisex name?
Yes — Cadence is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 91% of Cadences assigned female and 9% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Cadence?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Cadence include Dina, Blake, Jewel. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Cadence

Cadence is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1974 and has accumulated 23K births in the dataset. Cadence's peak popularity came in 2007 when it ranked #199. Use the chart and map above to compare Cadence's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.