Given name & surname
Holden
“one who is willing and eager”·“from the hollow in the valley”
Holden is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “one who is willing and eager” (English) and “from the hollow in the valley” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “one who is willing and eager” (English) and “from the hollow in the valley” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1902. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Holden through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 32,795
- 32,507 boys · 288 girls
- Most popular year
- 2018
- 1,757 babies
- 2025
- 1,146
- #297 for boys · #13,841 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −19%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,140 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 297 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 19.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 1,732 in 2018. It also appeared in 6 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (89). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 23,449 as a first name in 2020; 32,979 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.
Holden’s family of names
Holden has a related form in Holdyn. Holden has a related form in Holdan. Holden has a related form in Holdin.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Holden
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Holden, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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“a cleric; a clerk”
98% boys · 2% girls
Pierce
“as solid and strong as a rock”
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Lando
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Cade
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Fedrick
Fedrick is a form of Cedric. One Welsh interpretation is “one who is kind and loved; of the spectacular bounty.”
>99% boys
Nigel
“the champion”
>99% boys
Šekspīrs
Šekspīrs is a surname from English. It is used in Latvian.
—
Jensen
“God is gracious” · “the son of Jan”
94% boys · 6% girls