How to say it
AA · ron
/ˈɛr.ən/
Masculine
Aaron
Exalted, or 'mountain of strength'
What it means
Hebrew Aharon, of uncertain root. Two competing readings: 'exalted' from a Semitic word for mountain, or a borrowing from Egyptian for 'great name.' The biblical Aaron was Moses's older brother and the first high priest of Israel.
Aaron's roots are debated. The most common gloss is 'exalted' or 'mountain of strength,' from a Semitic root, but some linguists trace it to Egyptian, fitting for a name that first appears during the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. In the Hebrew Bible, Aaron is Moses's older brother and the first high priest; the Aaronic priesthood takes its name from him. The name carried steadily through Jewish tradition, entered English via the King James Bible, and surged in the 1970s through the 1990s alongside the broader biblical-name revival. Common shorts include Ari and Ron in everyday use.
Popularity over time
peaked at #28 in 1994, currently #80 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
Standard US pronunciation is AIR-en (rhymes with Karen). Some dialects say ARE-en or A-A-ron (each A separate); both are accepted.
- Nickname
Ari is the most common short, Ron less so. Many Aarons keep the full two syllables.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Aaron (Bible) Moses's older brother, first high priest of Israel
- Aaron Burr 3rd US Vice President, the man who shot Hamilton
- Aaron Rodgers NFL quarterback, four-time MVP
Spelling variants
- Aron
- Aaron
- Aharon
Names with the same feeling
See Aaron from another angle
By meaning
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