How to say it
AI · dan
ˈeɪ.dən
Masculine
Aidan
Little fire
What it means
The traditional Irish form of Aodhán, a little-one form of Aodh (the Celtic fire god), so 'little fire.'
Aidan is the traditional Irish spelling of Aodhán, a diminutive of Aodh, the old Celtic god of fire and sun, giving the warm meaning 'little fire.' St. Aidan of Lindisfarne carried Christianity through 7th-century Northumbria. The American respelling Aiden later raced past it on the charts, but Aidan is the original. It reads friendly, Celtic, and bright. Part of the same blaze as the Aodh-family names.
How to spell Aidan
The standard spelling is Aidan. Common variants include Aiden, Aedan, Ayden, but Aidan is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #39 in 2003, currently #326 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Aidan is the traditional Irish form; Aiden and Ayden are the American respellings.
- Pop culture
St. Aidan of Lindisfarne; Aidan Shaw of Sex and the City.
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.
- St. Aidan of Lindisfarne 7th-century Irish monk who evangelized Northumbria
Spelling variants
- Aiden
- Aedan
- Ayden
Names with the same feeling
See Aidan from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Aidan mean?
- The traditional Irish form of Aodhán, a little-one form of Aodh (the Celtic fire god), so 'little fire.'
- What does Aidan mean in Irish?
- In Irish, Aidan means "Little fire." Aidan is the traditional Irish spelling of Aodhán, a diminutive of Aodh, the old Celtic god of fire and sun, giving the warm meaning 'little fire.' St. Aidan of Lindisfarne carried Christianity through 7th-century Northumbria. The American respelling Aiden later raced past it on the charts, but Aidan is the original. It reads friendly, Celtic, and bright. Part of the same blaze as the Aodh-family names.
- Is Aidan short for Aodh?
- Yes. Aidan is a short form of Aodh, and it carries the same meaning, "Little fire." These days many parents use Aidan as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Aidan?
- Aidan is pronounced ˈeɪ.dən. Say it as AI-dan, with the stress on the "ai" syllable.
- How do you spell Aidan?
- The standard spelling is Aidan. Common spelling variants include Aiden, Aedan, Ayden.
- Is Aidan a boy or girl name?
- Aidan is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Aidan?
- Aidan ranked #326 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.