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Austen

♂ Boy

Pronounced AWS-tihn /ˈɔs.tɪn/Medium

Meaning: Variant of Austin, a medieval contraction of Augustine, from Latin Augustinus/Augustus meaning 'great, venerable, exalted'Medium

In 30 seconds: Austen is an English boy's name, a variant of Austin meaning 'great, venerable, exalted.' It traces back through the medieval contraction of Augustine to the Latin Augustus.
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Origin MediumEnglish, Latin
MeaningVariant of Austin, a medieval contraction of Augustine, from Latin Augustinus/Augustus meaning 'great, venerable, exalted'
U.S. rank (2024)#1982 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births78 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1995
Total births (all-time)≈ 8,069

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199519172024

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

History & Origin

Austin began as a medieval shortening of Augustine, itself from Latin Augustinus and Augustus, carrying the sense 'great, venerable, exalted.' Austen is a spelling variant of that name, familiar in English from its use as a surname as well. The longer forms Augustine and Augustinus show the Latin root behind it.

The 'en' ending gives it a slightly literary, refined air. British statesman Austen Chamberlain, a Nobel Peace Prize co-recipient, is among those who bore the spelling.

Did you know? Austen is a spelling variant of Austin, so it keeps the same core meaning of 'origin uncertain' while changing the visual style.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Austen — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

AugustineAustinAustonAustynAugustinus

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Austen Chamberlain (1863–1937)
    British statesman and Foreign Secretary; co-recipient of the 1925 Nobel Peace Prize for the Locarno Treaties.

If you like Austen…

Austin— The base name Austen varies, with the same 'venerable' meaning.
Augustine— A listed source name that Austin and Austen contract.
Austyn— A listed variation with a 'y' spelling.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Austen mean?

Austen is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Austen?

It's commonly said AWS-tihn /ˈɔs.tɪn/.

Is Austen a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Austen?

In 2024, Austen ranked #1982 in the U.S. for boys, with 78 births recorded.