Holden

At a Glance: Name: Holden – Meaning: hollow valley – Origin: Old English (surname) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: HOHL-din

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Holden started out as an Old English surname, built from words meaning "hollow valley" — picture a low, sheltered stretch of land. It's a classic boy's name with a romantic, storybook, timeless, classic feel, and it's pronounced HOHL-din. For a parent who likes a name with old surname roots and a settled, literary tone, Holden fits that brief.

Meaning & Origin of Holden

Meaning: Hollow valley.

Origin: Old English (surname).

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Holden

Phonetic: HOHL-din   IPA: /ˈhoʊldən/

Popularity of Holden

Holden peaked at #217 in 2018 with 1,731 babies given the name, and by 2024 it had eased to #281 with 1,205 — still a steadily used classic, just a bit past its high point.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1902–2024.

Make Holden Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Holden, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

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.

• Harry
• Rhett
• Andy
• Beckett
• Beckham
• Bodie

FAQ

What does the name Holden mean?

Hollow valley. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Holden)

How do you pronounce Holden?

Holden is pronounced HOHL-din (IPA: /ˈhoʊldən/).

Is Holden a popular name right now?

Holden peaked at #217 in 2018 and is ranked #281 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1902–2024.)

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