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Holden

♂ Boy

Pronounced HOHL-den /ˈhoʊldən/High

Meaning: Deep valley; hollow valleyHigh

In 30 seconds: A strong English place-name meaning 'hollow valley.' Holden carries the literary prestige of Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye — the quintessential name of the thoughtful outsider — now embraced by parents as a warm, distinguished choice.
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Origin HighEnglish
MeaningDeep valley; hollow valley
U.S. rank (2025)#297 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births1,140 boys (0.06% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2018
Total births (all-time)≈ 32,498

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201819022025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Holden is an English topographic surname derived from the Old English hol (hollow, deep) and denu (valley), meaning 'hollow valley' or 'deep valley.' It was a place name in various parts of England, particularly in Lancashire and Yorkshire, that became a hereditary surname during the medieval period.

As a given name, Holden gained its most significant cultural boost from J.D. Salinger's 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye, whose protagonist Holden Caulfield became one of American literature's most iconic characters. The name entered the U.S. top 200 for boys in the 2010s and continues to rise.

Did you know? Holden Caulfield, the alienated teenage narrator of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye (1951), remains one of the most discussed literary characters in American culture — making Holden a name with remarkable intellectual and literary resonance.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name — Holden — etymology notesU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

Holden

Nicknames

HoldHol

Famous Bearers

  • ★Holden Caulfield (The Catcher in the Rye) (1951)
    Fictional narrator of J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye, one of American literature's most iconic characters.

If you like Holden…

Emerson— English literary surname name with the same intellectual, distinguished two-syllable character
Elliot— literary name with the same thoughtful, bookish elegance
Atticus— To Kill a Mockingbird name in the same literary-hero naming tradition
Beckett— literary surname name with the same dark, brooding intellectual prestige

Frequently Asked

What does the name Holden mean?

Holden is an Old English place-name meaning 'hollow valley' or 'deep valley,' from hol (hollow) and denu (valley).

How do you pronounce Holden?

It is said HOHL-den /ˈhoʊldən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Holden a boy or girl name?

Holden is used almost exclusively as a boys' name.

How popular is Holden?

Holden entered the U.S. top 200 for boys in the 2010s and continues to rise.