How to say it
CADE
keɪd
Masculine
Cade
Round, lumpy, or 'battle'
What it means
Two roots converged: English surname from Old English cada ('round, lumpy,' a nickname) and Welsh from cad ('battle'). Also used as a short for Cadwyn or Cayden. Cade was an English first name in Tom Clancy's Net Force (1990s) and the Saw and 90210 reboot eras.
Cade has two competing roots. The English surname Cade descends from the Old English cada, originally a nickname for someone round or lumpy (the same root that gives 'cad' meaning a low or ungentlemanly person, a 19th-century narrowing). The Welsh reading derives Cade from cad ('battle'), as in Cadell or Cadwyn. Jack Cade led the 1450 Kentish rebellion against Henry VI (a footnote in Shakespeare's Henry VI Part 2). As a first name Cade is American and modern, basically post-1990. It entered the US top 500 in 2006 and is steady in the 400-600 range. Common as a stand-alone short for Cayden, Caden, and similar -aden names.
How to spell Cade
The standard spelling is Cade. Common variants include Caide, Kade, but Cade is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #201 in 2001, currently #248 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
- Pop culture
Cade reads as a short, sharp American name; it's often a stand-alone short for Cayden or Caden, and the historic English surname adds a small Shakespearean footnote.
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.
- Jack Cade Leader of the 1450 Kentish rebellion against Henry VI
Spelling variants
- Caide
- Kade
Names with the same feeling
See Cade from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Cade mean?
- Two roots converged: English surname from Old English cada ('round, lumpy,' a nickname) and Welsh from cad ('battle'). Also used as a short for Cadwyn or Cayden. Cade was an English first name in Tom Clancy's Net Force (1990s) and the Saw and 90210 reboot eras.
- What does Cade mean in English?
- In English, Cade means "Round, lumpy, or 'battle'." Cade has two competing roots. The English surname Cade descends from the Old English cada, originally a nickname for someone round or lumpy (the same root that gives 'cad' meaning a low or ungentlemanly person, a 19th-century narrowing). The Welsh reading derives Cade from cad ('battle'), as in Cadell or Cadwyn. Jack Cade led the 1450 Kentish rebellion against Henry VI (a footnote in Shakespeare's Henry VI Part 2). As a first name Cade is American and modern, basically post-1990. It entered the US top 500 in 2006 and is steady in the 400-600 range. Common as a stand-alone short for Cayden, Caden, and similar -aden names.
- Is Cade short for Cayden?
- Yes. Cade is a short form of Cayden, and it carries the same meaning, "Round, lumpy, or 'battle'." These days many parents use Cade as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Cade?
- Cade is pronounced keɪd. Say it as CADE, with the stress on the "cade" syllable.
- How do you spell Cade?
- The standard spelling is Cade. Common spelling variants include Caide, Kade.
- Is Cade a boy or girl name?
- Cade is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Cade?
- Cade ranked #248 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.