How to say it
KAY · den
/ˈkeɪ.dən/
Masculine
Kayden
Battle, or modern coinage
What it means
Modern American respelling of Caden/Kaiden, ultimately from the Irish Mac Cadáin ('son of Cadán,' from cath 'battle'). The K-and-Y spelling is part of the early-2000s -ayden cluster (Jayden, Brayden, Hayden, Aiden).
Kayden is a modern American respelling of Caden, ultimately from the anglicized Irish surname Mac Cadáin ('son of Cadán,' from the Old Irish cath, 'battle'). The K-and-Y spelling places Kayden in the early-2000s -ayden cluster (Jayden, Brayden, Hayden, Aiden), driven by the punchy -ay rhyme. As a US first name Kayden entered the top 200 in 2010 and is steady in the 100-200 range. The Kayden/Kaiden/Caden/Cayden/Kaden trio (or quartet, or quintet) collectively would top the boys' charts. Common short: Kay or Kade.
Popularity over time
peaked at #90 in 2014, currently #135 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Kayden (K-AY), Kaiden (K-AI), Caden (C-A), Cayden (C-AY), and Kaden (K-A) are all the same name; spelling diversity is itself a feature of the modern -aden cluster.
Spelling variants
- Caden
- Cayden
- Kaiden
- Kaden
Names with the same feeling
See Kayden from another angle
By meaning
By style