Home › Baby Names Directory › Holden
Holden
How to Pronounce Holden
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
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
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.
Variations
Nicknames
Famous Bearers
- Famous bearers coming soon.
If you like Holden…
Explore names like Holden
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.