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At a Glance
- Meaning
- From an English surname with several possible roots: a personal-name element meaning 'lump/swelling,' an occupational term for a barrel-maker, or a word for a hand-reared farm animal
- Origin
- English (surname, multiple possible roots)
- Gender
- Boy
- Pronunciation
- KAYD
Cade comes from an English surname with a few possible roots — it's been linked to a word for a lump or swelling, an occupational term for a barrel-maker, or a term for a hand-reared farm animal. You may see it glossed elsewhere as meaning 'round' or even 'gentle,' but that's not accurate: there's no Welsh root behind it, and the surname traces back to those English occupational and descriptive origins instead. It's said KAYD, rhyming with "made."
Meaning & Origin of Cade
Meaning: From an English surname with several possible roots: a personal-name element meaning 'lump/swelling,' an occupational term for a barrel-maker, or a word for a hand-reared farm animal.
Origin: English (surname, multiple possible roots).
A common claim: Widely glossed as Welsh or English for 'round' (sometimes 'pure' or 'gentle'). Actually: There's no Welsh root for Cade. Wiktionary traces the English surname to a Germanic element meaning 'lump' or 'swelling,' an occupational term for a cooper, or a word for a hand-reared lamb — not a simple 'round' or 'gentle' meaning.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Cade
KAYDIPA /ˈkeɪd/
Popularity of Cade
Cade sits at #272 in the SSA's 2024 data, with 1,260 babies given the name that year, down from its high point of #201 in 2001 when 1,811 boys were named Cade.
Names Like Cade
These names share Cade’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Cade mean?
From an English surname with several possible roots: a personal-name element meaning ‘lump/swelling,’ an occupational term for a barrel-maker, or a word for a hand-reared farm animal. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Cade?
Cade is pronounced KAYD (IPA: /ˈkeɪd/).
Is Cade a popular name right now?
Cade peaked at #201 in 2001 and is ranked #272 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1953–2024.)
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