Aidan
Say it: AY-dan/ˈeɪdən/
BoyIrishMeans little fire5 letters2 syllables
#82
in Ireland (2025)
#85 with spellings combined
72
babies in 2025
#33
best rank (1965)
10,061
babies since 1964
Down 33
10-year rank change
Aidan through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 72 | #85 |
| 2024 | 70 | #85 |
| 2023 | 69 | #91 |
| 2022 | 92 | #75 |
| 2021 | 94 | #75 |
| 2020 | 94 | #72 |
| 2019 | 142 | #50 |
| 2018 | 149 | #51 |
| 2017 | 127 | #56 |
| 2016 | 152 | #52 |
| 2015 | 154 | #52 |
| 2014 | 159 | #51 |
| 2013 | 179 | #48 |
| 2012 | 172 | #50 |
| 2011 | 229 | #40 |
| 2010 | 187 | #48 |
| 2009 | 197 | #46 |
| 2008 | 151 | #60 |
| 2007 | 149 | #55 |
| 2006 | 120 | #65 |
| 2005 | 106 | #71 |
| 2004 | 124 | #62 |
| 2003 | 109 | #64 |
| 2002 | 109 | #62 |
| 2001 | 84 | #73 |
| 2000 | 75 | #74 |
| 1999 | 87 | #69 |
| 1998 | 86 | #65 |
| 1997 | 121 | #62 |
| 1996 | 113 | #63 |
| 1995 | 120 | #63 |
| 1994 | 110 | #62 |
| 1993 | 146 | #53 |
| 1992 | 126 | #60 |
| 1991 | 143 | #55 |
| 1990 | 123 | #61 |
| 1989 | 149 | #50 |
| 1988 | 147 | #50 |
| 1987 | 185 | #47 |
| 1986 | 191 | #47 |
| 1985 | 201 | #46 |
| 1984 | 225 | #45 |
| 1983 | 229 | #46 |
| 1982 | 240 | #46 |
| 1981 | 240 | #46 |
| 1980 | 243 | #50 |
| 1979 | 230 | #47 |
| 1978 | 221 | #47 |
| 1977 | 227 | #44 |
| 1976 | 257 | #38 |
| 1975 | 189 | #54 |
| 1974 | 258 | #39 |
| 1973 | 242 | #41 |
| 1972 | 218 | #45 |
| 1971 | 213 | #44 |
| 1970 | 234 | #35 |
| 1969 | 185 | #41 |
| 1968 | 215 | #36 |
| 1967 | 198 | #38 |
| 1966 | 169 | #41 |
| 1965 | 233 | #33 |
| 1964 | 182 | #37 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Aidan mean?
Little fire
English form of Irish Aodhán, from Aodh (fire) with the small ending -án.
Say it right
AYdan
The Irish form Aodhán is said much the same, AY-dawn.
The story of Aidan
Aidan is the English spelling of the Irish Aodhán, a small form of the old name Aodh, which means “fire”. So Aidan is usually explained as “little fire”. The Old Irish form was Aédán.
The best-known bearer is Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne, an Irish monk who died in 651. He founded the monastery on the island of Lindisfarne, off the coast of Northumbria, and became its first bishop. He travelled constantly on foot, preaching to rich and poor alike, and is remembered as the Apostle of Northumbria.
In Ireland Aidan has been given steadily throughout the CSO records. Its best rank was number 33 in 1965, and the count was highest in 1974, with 258 boys. It was number 82 in 2025. The CSO counts other spellings, such as Aiden, separately.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Aidan (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Aodhán (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Aidan of Lindisfarne
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Aidan | 72 | 10,061 |
In Northern Ireland
#95 in 2025 with 25 babies. Best rank #43 (2011); 1,303 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.