Holden Name Meaning

Holden is a surname that has been used as a first name for boys. It comes from the Old English word “holen,” which means “hollow.”

Origins of the Name Holden

The name Holden was originally given to people who lived in or near a hollow or valley. In the Middle Ages, it was also used as a nickname for someone who was “hold” or “hollow-cheeked”.

Popularity of the Name Holden

Holden hasn’t always been a popular name. In fact, it wasn’t even on the radar for most parents until the 1950s. That’s when J.D. Salinger’s novel “The Catcher in the Rye” was published. The main character in the book is a teenage boy named Holden Caulfield, and his name quickly became synonymous with the novel. As a result, the name Holden saw a spike in popularity in the United States.

The popularity of the name Holden can be attributed to J.D. Salinger’s book, The Catcher in the Rye. The novel, which was published in 1951, tells the story of Holden Caulfield, a teenage boy who is kicked out of his prep school and wanders around New York City for a few days before returning home. The book is considered a classic of American literature and has been translated into many languages. Holden’s character is often seen as a symbol of teenage rebellion, and the book has been banned in many schools and libraries.

The character of Holden Caulfield is also quite popular. He is often seen as a sort of anti-hero, a boy who is struggling to find his place in the world. He is a complex character, with a mix of vulnerability and sarcasm. He is a loner who is looking for something real and meaningful in his life. His character resonated with many people and helped to popularize the name Holden.

Holden’s popularity has been on the decline in recent years. However, it still remains a unique and interesting choice for parents who are looking for a name that stands out. In the United States, the name Holden has never reached the top 100 baby names. It’s also not a very popular name in other countries, but it’s still a name that people might recognize and remember.

Final Thoughts on the Name Holden

Holden is a name with a story to tell. It’s not a name that you’ll hear on every playground, but it has its own special charm. The name is associated with the literary classic, The Catcher in the Rye and its protagonist Holden Caulfield, which has a lasting impact on the popularity of the name. It’s a name that is perfect for parents who are looking for something a bit different, but also has a literary connection. So if you’re looking for a name that’s a little bit different, but also has a rich history, Holden might be the perfect choice.

Infographic of Holden name meaning, which is Meaning deep valley, Holden is an English name.
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Holden Name Popularity

How popular is the name Holden? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 0 0%
1911 — 0 0%
1912 — 0 0%
1913 — 0 0%
1914 — 0 0%
1915 — 0 0%
1916 — 0 0%
1917 — 0 0%
1918 — 0 0%
1919 — 0 0%
1920 — 0 0%
1921 — 0 0%
1922 — 0 0%
1923 — 0 0%
1924 — 0 0%
1925 — 0 0%
1926 — 0 0%
1927 — 0 0%
1928 — 0 0%
1929 — 0 0%
1930 — 0 0%
1931 — 0 0%
1932 — 0 0%
1933 — 0 0%
1934 — 0 0%
1935 — 0 0%
1936 — 0 0%
1937 — 0 0%
1938 — 0 0%
1939 — 0 0%
1940 — 0 0%
1941 — 0 0%
1942 — 0 0%
1943 — 0 0%
1944 — 0 0%
1945 — 0 0%
1946 — 0 0%
1947 — 0 0%
1948 — 0 0%
1949 — 0 0%
1950 — 0 0%
1951 — 0 0%
1952 — 0 0%
1953 — 0 0%
1954 — 0 0%
1955 — 0 0%
1956 — 0 0%
1957 — 0 0%
1958 — 0 0%
1959 — 0 0%
1960 — 0 0%
1961 — 0 0%
1962 — 0 0%
1963 — 0 0%
1964 — 0 0%
1965 — 0 0%
1966 — 0 0%
1967 — 0 0%
1968 — 0 0%
1969 — 0 0%
1970 — 0 0%
1971 — 0 0%
1972 — 0 0%
1973 — 0 0%
1974 — 0 0%
1975 — 0 0%
1976 — 0 0%
1977 — 0 0%
1978 — 0 0%
1979 — 0 0%
1980 — 0 0%
1981 — 0 0%
1982 — 0 0%
1983 — 0 0%
1984 — 0 0%
1985 — 0 0%
1986 1,602 13 0.0009%
1987 1,141 33 0.0022%
1988 788 96 0.0062%
1989 885 80 0.005%
1990 746 138 0.0083%
1991 681 171 0.0105%
1992 745 146 0.0091%
1993 632 217 0.0139%
1994 602 247 0.0161%
1995 598 250 0.0166%
1996 579 268 0.0179%
1997 482 397 0.0268%
1998 416 530 0.0354%
1999 434 497 0.0332%
2000 451 491 0.0321%
2001 444 510 0.0338%
2002 408 587 0.0392%
2003 423 572 0.0376%
2004 371 717 0.047%
2005 359 790 0.0517%
2006 385 747 0.0477%
2007 378 781 0.0495%
2008 354 852 0.0551%
2009 332 932 0.0624%
2010 314 992 0.0688%
2011 296 1,106 0.0776%
2012 294 1,158 0.0813%
2013 283 1,188 0.0834%
2014 286 1,197 0.0822%
2015 288 1,228 0.0844%
2016 267 1,336 0.0927%
2017 241 1,503 0.1077%
2018 216 1,705 0.1241%
2019 248 1,438 0.1062%
2020 228 1,584 0.1244%
2021 236 1,471 0.1203%
2022 282 1,192 0.0904%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Holden

If you like Holden, you’ll love these other names like Holden.

What names sound like Holden?

If you like how Holden sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Holden.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Haldan

Half Dane

Scandinavian

Halden

Half Dane

Scandinavian

Halten

Estate on the hill

English

What names are similar to Holden?

Find a name that’s like Holden, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Colden

Dark valley

English

Golden

Little golden one

English

Lists With Holden

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Holden.

4 Comments

  1. We got the name from a J.D. Salinger novel.

    Reply

  2. We got the idea for the name from the novel, Catcher in the Rye. The main character in the book is named Holden Caufield.

    Reply

  3. When Holden was born, we didn’t know if we were having a boy or a girl. Shortly after my husband said, “I think he needs an H name”. He went a day and a half without a name and we decided on Holden, kindly and gracious or hollow valley. There is also a park named Holden Arboretum near us and we are outdoorsy people and we loved it!

    Reply

  4. We chose after I had been gathering names obsessively for months. My husband was going through old books and found it in “The Catcher in the Rye” and asked me how I felt about it. It made me feel warm and fuzzy and honestly, we agreed to take a break from searching. Both of us admitted later that we were secretly calling our baby “Holden” at our next appointment : ) It sounds like a friendly and handsome name to me. Not terribly popular but not unheard of either. I was afraid that people would think we were naming him after the book character, who is kind of a snot! (Then I decided to stop caring what people ‘might’ think!) And though it may have originally been inspired by the book, we chose it for the sound and the feel and we love it!!

    Reply

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