Aidan

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Aidan

Gender: Masculine
Language: Irish
Etymology:
Aidan is the Anglicized form of Aodhán (or Aodhagan), an Irish Gaelic name meaning “Little Fire,” from “aodh” (fire).

History:
Aidan was a traditional Gaelic name (Áedán), the name of an influential 7th-century saint, and common in the 6th century, rare by the 10th. It was revived in the 19th century by the Tractarian movment, and strongly 20th century by the Irish Gaelic revival.

Pronunciation: aid-ann.

Diminutives: Aed, Aedd, Ad, Ade, Adie, Ady.

Alternates: Aodh, Aodha, Aoidh, Aodhán, Aodhagan, Aedan, Adan, Aden, Aiden, Aydan, Ayden, Iagan, Edan, Edgan, Egan.
Latin: Aidanus, Aegdanus.
Welsh: Aeddan, Hayden, Haydn, Haydon, Hadyn.

Surnames: Kay, Kegan, Keegan, McCay, McCoy, McCue, McGhee, McGhie, McHugh, McKay, McKee, McKie, Mac Aodh, Mac Aodhagain, Mac Aoidh, Magee.

See also: Adan, Aden, Hadyn, Hayden.

Famous Bearers:
Religious Figures:
St. Aidan (?-651)
A Celtic monk and evangelist.

Royalty:
Aidan (Aedan) (?-608)
King of Dalriada (a Scottish kingdom).

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.008 % named Adan
0.004 % named Hayden
less than 0.004 % named Aidan

Popularity of Aidan:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1990: N/A
1990: 915th most popular.
1991: 816th most popular.
1992: 641st most popular.
1993: 569th most popular.
1994: 440th most popular.
1995: 282nd most popular.
1996: 259th most popular.
1997: 224th most popular.
1998: 200th most popular.
1999: 169th most popular.
2000: 115th most popular.
2001: 88th most popular.
2002: 63rd most popular.
2003: 39th most popular.

In Ireland...
1998: 65th most popular.
1999: 69th most popular.
2000: 74th most popular.
2001: 73rd most popular.

Popularity of Aiden:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1990: N/A
1994: N/A
1995: 949th most popular.
1996: 827th most popular.
1997: 652nd most popular.
1998: 561st most popular.
1999: 479th most popular.
2000: 325th most popular.
2001: 219th most popular.
2002: 141st most popular.
2003: 73rd most popular.