Given name & surname
Golden
“the golden one”
Golden is a variant of Golding. One English interpretation is “the golden one.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Golden is a variant of Golding. One English interpretation is “the golden one.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Golden is a variant of Golding. An origin associated with Golding is English.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Golden through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,229
- 2,937 boys · 2,292 girls
- Most popular year
- 1919
- 128 babies
- 2025
- 96
- #2,583 for boys · #3,417 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +52%
- Rising fast
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 52% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 51 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,583 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 60.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 45 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Georgia had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,773 as a first name in 2020; 47,533 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.
Golden’s family of names
Golden has a related form in Golding. In English usage, Golden as a surname has a related form in GOULDEN.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Golden
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Golden, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Valentine
“one who is strong and healthy”
55% boys · 45% girls
Everette
“as strong as a boar; as brave as a boar”
73% boys · 27% girls
Bennie
“son of the south; son of the right hand” · “son of the right hand”
68% boys · 32% girls
Ollie
“of the olive tree; one who is peaceful” · “olive tree”
66% boys · 34% girls
Arlington
67% boys · 33% girls
Harlin
“an athletic woman” · “from the army”
73% boys · 27% girls
Basil
“royal” · “of the royal family; a kingly man”
74% boys · 26% girls
Livingston
“from the town of a beloved friend”
44% boys · 56% girls