How to say it
CA · den
ˈkeɪ.dən
Masculine
Caden
Battle, spirit of war
What it means
Modern American name with two competing readings: anglicized Irish Mac Cadáin ('son of Cadán,' battle) or a modern coinage in the -aden cluster (Aiden, Jayden, Brayden). The first-name use is essentially post-1995.
Caden has two competing origin stories. The traditional reading derives it from the anglicized Irish surname Mac Cadáin or Mac Adáin, 'son of Cadán' (a personal name from cath, 'battle'). The modern reading treats it as a coinage in the early-2000s -aden cluster (Aiden, Jayden, Brayden, Hayden). As a US first name Caden surfaced in the 1990s and surged in the early 2000s, peaking in the top 100 around 2008. Synecdoche, New York (the 2008 Charlie Kaufman film) features Caden Cotard played by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Spelling variants Kaden, Kaiden, Cayden, and Kayden all exist in the US top 1000. The first-name use is essentially post-1995. Common short: Cade.
How to spell Caden
The standard spelling is Caden. Common variants include Kaden, Kaiden, Cayden, Kayden, but Caden is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #91 in 2006, currently #201 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
Caden, Kaden, Cayden, Kayden, Kaiden, Cadyn, Caiden, and Kadyn are all the same name; spelling diversity is itself a feature of the modern -aden cluster.
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.
- Caden Cotard Philip Seymour Hoffman's character in Synecdoche, New York (2008)
Spelling variants
- Kaden
- Kaiden
- Cayden
- Kayden
Names with the same feeling
See Caden from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Caden mean?
- Modern American name with two competing readings: anglicized Irish Mac Cadáin ('son of Cadán,' battle) or a modern coinage in the -aden cluster (Aiden, Jayden, Brayden). The first-name use is essentially post-1995.
- What does Caden mean in English?
- In English, Caden means "Battle, spirit of war." Caden has two competing origin stories. The traditional reading derives it from the anglicized Irish surname Mac Cadáin or Mac Adáin, 'son of Cadán' (a personal name from cath, 'battle'). The modern reading treats it as a coinage in the early-2000s -aden cluster (Aiden, Jayden, Brayden, Hayden). As a US first name Caden surfaced in the 1990s and surged in the early 2000s, peaking in the top 100 around 2008. Synecdoche, New York (the 2008 Charlie Kaufman film) features Caden Cotard played by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Spelling variants Kaden, Kaiden, Cayden, and Kayden all exist in the US top 1000. The first-name use is essentially post-1995. Common short: Cade.
- How do you pronounce Caden?
- Caden is pronounced ˈkeɪ.dən. Say it as CA-den, with the stress on the "ca" syllable.
- How do you spell Caden?
- The standard spelling is Caden. Common spelling variants include Kaden, Kaiden, Cayden, Kayden.
- Is Caden a boy or girl name?
- Caden is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Caden?
- Caden ranked #201 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.