Home › Baby Names Directory › Kade

Kade

♂ Boy

Pronounced KAYD /keɪd/High

Meaning: From the Old Welsh 'cad' (battle) or Old English elements, possibly meaning 'spirit of battle'. Also used as a short form of Caden or Kaden.Medium

In 30 seconds: Kade is a sharp, one-syllable name with Celtic battle roots, related to the Welsh cad (battle). Short, punchy, and strongly masculine, it has been growing steadily in the American West.
💕 Browse more names
Origin MediumOld Welsh, Old English
MeaningFrom the Old Welsh 'cad' (battle) or Old English elements, possibly meaning 'spirit of battle'. Also used as a short form of Caden or Kaden.
U.S. rank (2025)#349 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births943 boys (0.05% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 23,282

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419692025

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

History & Origin

Kade derives from the Old Welsh cad, meaning battle, or may be a short form of names like Kaden or Caden. The Old Welsh battle root appears in several names including Cadwallader, Caradoc, and the feminine Cadence. As a standalone one-syllable given name, Kade emerged primarily in the United States and Australia in the late twentieth century.

Kade has been growing steadily in the United States since the 1990s, particularly in Western states. It has a rugged, outdoorsy quality that appeals to parents who want a strong, masculine one-syllable name. While less common than Caden or Kaden, Kade has the advantage of maximum brevity. It charts in the US top 400 boys' names.

Did you know? Kade shares its Celtic root with names like Cadence and Cade — all deriving from the Old Welsh cad, meaning battle — making this family of names etymologically connected to one of the oldest concepts in human experience.
Overall data confidence 75%
Behind the Name: Cade — Welsh cad etymology shared by Kade and CadeSocial Security Administration Name Data — US popularity trends for Kade

Variations

CadeCaydeKayde

Nicknames

K

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Kade…

Wade— one-syllable Old English name with the same rugged, direct, masculine brevity
Blake— one-syllable surname name with the same crisp, Western American energy
Jace— one-syllable modern American name with the same punchy, confident masculine character

Frequently Asked

What does the name Kade mean?

Kade means 'spirit of battle' or 'battle', from the Old Welsh cad, also used as a short form of Kaden.

How do you pronounce Kade?

Kade is pronounced KAYD (/keɪd/), a single syllable rhyming with 'made'.

Is Kade a boy or girl name?

Kade is a boy's name.

How popular is Kade?

Kade charts in the US top 400 boys' names and is particularly popular in Western states.