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Home › Baby Names Directory › Holden

Holden

♀ Girl

Pronounced HOHL-den /ˈhoʊl.dən/High

Meaning: From an English place/surname — Old English hol, 'hollow; deep', plus denu, 'a valley'; 'the deep/hollow valley'; mostly a boys' name; here used for girls; we flag the male leanLow

In 30 seconds: The deep/hollow valley: Holden is an English place/surname. Mostly male — here for girls (said 'HOHL-den').
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Origin LowEnglish
MeaningFrom an English place/surname — Old English hol, 'hollow; deep', plus denu, 'a valley'; 'the deep/hollow valley'; mostly a boys' name; here used for girls; we flag the male lean
U.S. rank (2024)#7026 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births16 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2018
Total births (all-time)≈ 281

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201819942024

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Holden comes from an English place and surname — Old English hol, 'hollow; deep', plus denu, 'a valley' — 'the deep/hollow valley' (famous from Holden Caulfield of The Catcher in the Rye). Mostly a boys' name; here used for girls (slug distinguished; we flag the male lean; said 'HOHL-den').

In the U.S. Holden leans strongly male. Rare for girls, the-deep-valley at the root, and modern.

Did you know? Holden joins the Old English hol, 'hollow; deep', with denu, 'a valley' — 'the deep/hollow valley' — mostly a boys' name (famous from Holden Caulfield); we flag the male lean where it appears for a girl (said 'HOHL-den').
Overall data confidence 34%
References — Holden — male lean; flagged

Variations

HoldynHoldin

Nicknames

Holly

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Holden…

Holland— a sound-neighbor Hol- place-name girls' name
Harlow— a companion place/surname girls' name
Emerson— a fellow surname unisex girls' name
Sutton— another surname unisex girls' name

Explore names like Holden

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Holden mean?

Holden is an English place/surname — 'the deep/hollow valley'. It is mostly a boys' name.

How do you pronounce Holden?

It's said HOHL-den /ˈhoʊl.dən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Holden a boy or girl name?

Holden is mostly a boys' name; this page covers its use as a girl's name, which we flag.

How popular is Holden?

Holden is rare for girls in the U.S.

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