Given name & surname
Austen
“one who is venerable; majestic”·“venerable; majestic”
Austen is a variant of Austin. In English use, Austin carries the interpretation “one who is venerable; majestic.” Austen is a variant of Augusta. In Latin use, Augusta carries the interpretation “venerable; majestic.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Austen is a variant of Austin. In English use, Austin carries the interpretation “one who is venerable; majestic.” Austen is a variant of Augusta. In Latin use, Augusta carries the interpretation “venerable; majestic.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Austen is a form of Austin. Austin comes from Middle English, and ultimately from Latin.
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1917. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Austen through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 9,416
- 8,125 boys · 1,291 girls
- Most popular year
- 1995
- 567 babies
- 2025
- 97
- #2,518 for boys · #3,469 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −21%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 56% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 53 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,518 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 23.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 540 in 1995. It also appeared in 44 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 7,627 as a first name in 2020; 944 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Austen’s family of names
Austen has a related form in Austin. In Dutch usage, Austen has a conventional equivalent in the Polish form August. Austen has a related form in Augusta.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Austen has relatives in 3 languages.
3 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Austen
- Austen Henry LayardBritish politician (1817–1894)
- Austen CampbellEnglish footballer (1901–1981)
- Austen Robin CrappAustralian bishop (1934–2024)
- Austen AlbuBritish politician (1903-1994)
- Austen LaneAmerican football player (born 1987)
- Austen IvereighBritish Roman Catholic writer and activistborn 1966
- Austen HarrisonBritish architect (1891-1976)
- Austen RowlandAmerican basketball player (born 1981)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Austen, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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