Caden
Caden was the 201st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,742 babies. Its best year was 2006, when it ranked 91st; the most babies were born in 2007 (5,055). Over the last ten years it has moved down 9 places. More babies were named Caden in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Kayden) Origin not documented
- Rank in 2025
- #201 boys, up 41 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 1,742boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20075,055 babies
- Total since 1880
- 72,993babies recorded
What does the name Caden mean?
Caden is a spelling of Kayden, pronounced the same way, so it shares Kayden's meaning and origin.
Kayden is a variant spelling of Caden, a name created by American parents in the 1990s. Wiktionary describes Caden as coined to rhyme with fashionable names such as Aidan, Braden, Hayden and Jayden. Wikipedia notes that some connect Caden with the Irish surname Mac Cadáin, 'son of Cadán', but calls the etymology debated; we found no evidence that this surname explains the modern name. Kayden has been given to both boys and girls.
How sure is this? Not documented. A recent coinage; the link to Irish Mac Cadáin is a suggestion only.
Related names: Caden, Kaden, Kaiden, Cayden, Jayden.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Kayden', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wiktionary, entry 'Caden', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Caden (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Caden popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 948 since 1993, 10 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #201 | 1,742 |
| 2020 | #242 | 1,484 |
| 2010 | #119 | 3,413 |
| 2000 | #240 | 1,406 |
| 1990 | #2,495 | 27 |
| 1980 | #6,378 | 5 |
| 1970 | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Caden, counting every spelling?
Caden is a spelling of Kayden, a name family that ranked #20 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #201 for Caden on its own. Together these spellings went to 8,538 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kayden | 2,678 | #135 | 15,775 |
| Kaiden | 1,476 | #237 | 9,937 |
| Caden | 1,742 | #201 | 8,503 |
| Kaden | 1,034 | #328 | 5,967 |
| Cayden | 774 | #414 | 5,111 |
| Caiden | 475 | #602 | 3,075 |
| Kaidyn | 67 | #2,157 | 481 |
| Kaeden | 48 | #2,697 | 428 |
| Kaedyn | 26 | #4,086 | 204 |
| Caeden | 30 | #3,675 | 191 |
| Kaydon | 35 | #3,349 | 190 |
| Kaidan | 15 | #5,995 | 130 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Caden?
1,742 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Caden (0.48 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Caden born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 5 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Caden.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Caden?
About 71,200 people born in the US named Caden are alive today, with a median age of 17; half are between 11 and 21. That makes Caden mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Caden by state
How common Caden was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in New Hampshire (2.4×), Alaska (2.2×), Rhode Island (2.1×), Connecticut (2.1×), South Dakota (2.0×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Montana, New Mexico, Utah.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Caden: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Caden, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Caden
How popular is the name Caden?
Caden was the 201st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 1,742 babies. Its best year was 2006, when it ranked 91st; the most babies were born in 2007 (5,055). Over the last ten years it has moved down 9 places. More babies were named Caden in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Caden a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Caden in the US.
Where is Caden most popular?
In 2021–2025, Caden was most common in New Hampshire (2.39 per 1,000 boys), followed by Alaska and Rhode Island.