Alden

Meaning: Old friend
Origin: Old English

Boy's name · #598 in the US (2025) · 2020s wave

Popularity over time

Alden reached its best rank, #426, in 1911 and ranked #598 in 2025. About 18,000 boys have carried it since 1880. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

In recent years, Alden ran about 6× its national rate in Maine.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 37 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Alden ranks in other countries and regions.

#762 in Scotland (2025) · #818 in Canada (2025) · #1,613 in England & Wales (2025) · #2,944 in Italy (2024) · #2,985 in Ecuador (2025) · #3,303 in France (2025) · #2,159 in Sweden (2024) · #966 in Austria (2018).

Famous Aldens

Alden Ehrenreich — American actor (born 1989)
Alden Richards — Filipino actor (born 1992)
Alden W. Clausen — American businessman (1923–2013)
Alden B. Dow — American architect (1904–1983)
Alden Nowlan — Canadian poet, novelist, and playwright (1933–1983)

In stories & tradition

Alden — The Walking Dead (TV series)
Alden Parker — NCIS (TV series)

What Aldens become

Among 112 notable people named Alden:

Artists & writers appear 1.5× more often than among typical names — e.g. Alden B. Dow, American architect (1904–1983).

Similar names: Denver · Alder · Harlan · Holden · Alton · Alvin

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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