How to say it
CAM · den
ˈkæm.dən
Masculine
Camden
Enclosed valley
What it means
English place name from Camden in London (the borough), possibly from an Old English root meaning 'enclosed valley.' Modern English-language usage as a first name dates from the 2000s.
Camden is an English place name, most famous as the London borough that contains Camden Town and Camden Market. Etymologists trace the place name to an Old English root, perhaps cam ('enclosure') + denu ('valley'), giving 'enclosed valley.' William Camden (1551-1623) was an English antiquarian and historian whose Britannia is a foundational text of English topography. Camden, New Jersey, was named for Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden. As a first name Camden is American and recent: rare before 2000, then surging with the masculine surname-first wave. It entered the US top 200 in 2007. Cam is the standard short.
How to spell Camden
The standard spelling is Camden. Common variants include Kamden, but Camden is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #99 in 2013, currently #205 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
- Nickname
Cam is the universal short, shared with Cameron. Some families lean into the London borough association; others use the name without thinking about it.
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.
- Camden Town (London) London borough famous for the market and music scene
- William Camden Tudor-era English antiquarian and historian, author of Britannia
Spelling variants
- Kamden
Names with the same feeling
See Camden from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Camden mean?
- English place name from Camden in London (the borough), possibly from an Old English root meaning 'enclosed valley.' Modern English-language usage as a first name dates from the 2000s.
- What does Camden mean in Old English?
- In Old English, Camden means "Enclosed valley." Camden is an English place name, most famous as the London borough that contains Camden Town and Camden Market. Etymologists trace the place name to an Old English root, perhaps cam ('enclosure') + denu ('valley'), giving 'enclosed valley.' William Camden (1551-1623) was an English antiquarian and historian whose Britannia is a foundational text of English topography. Camden, New Jersey, was named for Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden. As a first name Camden is American and recent: rare before 2000, then surging with the masculine surname-first wave. It entered the US top 200 in 2007. Cam is the standard short.
- How do you pronounce Camden?
- Camden is pronounced ˈkæm.dən. Say it as CAM-den, with the stress on the "cam" syllable.
- How do you spell Camden?
- The standard spelling is Camden. Common spelling variants include Kamden.
- Is Camden a boy or girl name?
- Camden is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Camden?
- Camden ranked #205 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.