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At a Glance: Name: Alden – Meaning: old friend (from Ealdwine: eald 'old' + wine 'friend') – Origin: Old English – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: AWL-den
Alden is an Old English name meaning "old friend," formed from eald ("old") and wine ("friend"). It's pronounced AWL-den, and its vintage, timeless, classic character is backed by Social Security records going all the way back to 1880.
Meaning & Origin of Alden
Meaning: Old friend (from ealdwine: eald 'old' + wine 'friend').
Origin: Old English.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Alden
Phonetic: AWL-den IPA: /ˈɔːldən/
Popularity of Alden
Alden hit its peak popularity in 1911, ranking #426 with 46 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it ranked #576, with 492 babies given the name.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
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Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Alden mean?
Old friend (from ealdwine: eald ‘old’ + wine ‘friend’). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Alden)
How do you pronounce Alden?
Alden is pronounced AWL-den (IPA: /ˈɔːldən/).
Is Alden a popular name right now?
Alden peaked at #426 in 1911 and is ranked #576 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Alden? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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