Auden

♂ Boy

Pronounced AW-duhn /ˈɔ.dən/Medium

Meaning: OldMedium

In 30 seconds: Auden is an English boy's name carrying the meaning 'old'. It is a short, surname-style name now used as a given name.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningOld

U.S. rank (2024)#1890 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births84 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2020

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,796

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

The name means 'old' and comes through English, where it functioned as a surname before its move to first-name use. That shift gives it a literary, slightly vintage air. It travels under a single spelling with no recorded variants.

The soft 'aw' opening and quiet -den ending give Auden a gentle, understated sound. Its surname roots make it feel both familiar and uncommon as a first name.

Did you know? Auden likely reached first-name use through a surname or place-name route, which gives it that modern borrowed-from-history feel.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Auden — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Auden…

Arden— Shares the soft -den ending and English surname-style feel.

Holden— Another surname-turned-first-name with the -den sound.

Hayden— Matches the two-syllable -den ending and current style.

Aiden— Has a similar vowel opening and -den finish.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Auden mean?

Auden is usually explained as meaning 'old' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Auden?

It's commonly said AW-duhn /ˈɔ.dən/.

Is Auden a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Auden is used as a boy name.

How popular is Auden?

In 2024, Auden ranked #1890 in the U.S. for boys, with 84 births recorded.