How to say it
HOL · den
ˈhoʊl.dən
Masculine
Holden
Deep valley
What it means
An English place and surname name, 'deep' or 'hollow valley,' from Old English.
Holden is an English locational surname for someone from a deep, sheltered valley, built from Old English roots for 'hollow' and 'valley.' Its modern life as a first name owes almost everything to Holden Caulfield, the restless narrator of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. That gives it a literary, slightly brooding edge while still fitting the surname-first crowd with Hudson and Camden.
How to spell Holden
The standard spelling is Holden. Common variants include Holdyn, Holdon, but Holden is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #217 in 2018, currently #297 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed August 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Holden Caulfield of The Catcher in the Rye is the defining association.
Who's worn it
- Holden Caulfield the narrator of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye
Spelling variants
- Holdyn
- Holdon
Names with the same feeling
See Holden from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Holden mean?
- An English place and surname name, 'deep' or 'hollow valley,' from Old English.
- What does Holden mean in English?
- In English, Holden means "Deep valley." Holden is an English locational surname for someone from a deep, sheltered valley, built from Old English roots for 'hollow' and 'valley.' Its modern life as a first name owes almost everything to Holden Caulfield, the restless narrator of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. That gives it a literary, slightly brooding edge while still fitting the surname-first crowd with Hudson and Camden.
- How do you pronounce Holden?
- Holden is pronounced ˈhoʊl.dən. Say it as HOL-den, with the stress on the "hol" syllable.
- How do you spell Holden?
- The standard spelling is Holden. Common spelling variants include Holdyn, Holdon.
- Is Holden a boy or girl name?
- Holden is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Holden?
- Holden ranked #297 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.