Comments for the name Aidan

It's also spelled Aedan.

This is *NOT* a female name. Aidan is an old, established, and handsome male Irish name.

My son is named Aidan and he is VERY handsome. As is the actor Aidan Quinn.

I love the name Aidan, especially for a little girl. This is the name of one of my daughters.

Has been used more popularly in the United States as feminine in recent years.
Also, all of you saying that Aidan can NEVER be used as a female name and it's "just horrible," remember that there are people who come here and comment on their own name.

@I love the name Aidan, especially for a little girl. This is the name of one of my daughters.
-- Anonymous User 7/23/2005

Mom?

@My name is Aidan, and I'm a girl. I find it silly that people seem so upset that someone would dare use this name as a name for a girl.

I think it's a wonderful, strong name, and it works just as well for a female as it does a male.
-- sunshinesketches 11/14/2009

I love my name! I'm a girl, 14, and everybody thinks it's cool that I have a guys name. I think it's cool for a girl, and it fits really well with my personality. My name is flipping awesome!
-- AidanSkittle 9/17/2012

Yay! I'm not alone! All the "fiery" girls unite :3.

I really, really don't like this name at all. I'm not quite sure why. I just don't.

I found that this name means little fire. I love this name, but only for boys. In my opinon, it sounds strange for a girl. I also love the meaning.

I like this name at first but then I had to think about why there was something about it I did not like. When you say it out loud I now think about the disease Aids. What a shame but it's true. I would not name my son Aidan for fear he might get Aids.

What was that nonsense about AIDS? What has a name got to do with your chances of contracting a virus? I better warn my cousin Aiden, he should get a blood test right away!

Aidan is a good name. I find it nothing out of the ordinary, but it is a good, masculine name.

This is a fine masculine name. It is definitely *not* a unisex name.

My cousin's name is Aidan Hamilton K___. He is 17 years old and his names definitely reflect his strong personality. Aidan is a very strong and handsome boy's name.

I almost used this name when I was pregnant with my son, but it sounded too much like my oldest son's name. I would have never used it for a girl because I think it is sad to take a popular boy name and stick it on a girl. She will be stuck all through school having 2 or 3 boys with the same name in every class, and she will be the odd one out.

Means 'fiery'.

I like this name for a boy. I just don't know if I would prefer the spelling Aidan or Aiden. I have also seen it spelt Aydan, Ayden, Aydon, Aden and Adin.

I love this name for a boy and boy only! It is masculine and fiery. I loved this name for forever and then it starting getting so popular that I don't think that I would name my son Aidan anymore. But I adore it!

Aidan is Irish for fiery. It has been gaining popularity over the past couple of years, some statistics saying that it is the #1-used name.

This name should not be used for girls. It is a very masculine name. If you are considering using it for your daughter, please reconsider.

I like this name, but I hate it spelled this way. I don't know why. I like it spelled Ayden or Aiden, but not Aidan. I also think it's insanely overused. I could see using it for a girl, but maybe spelled differently. It's not just now that people are using this as a girl's name, either. The actress who played the older sister in the movie Andre is named Aidan.

I can't get why Aidan and all the names that rhyme with it are getting to be so popular these days. I like other popular names, like Emily, but I just don't like these names.

Aidan Shaw, played by John Corbett, was the name of Carrie Bradshaw's fiance in the risque T.V. show "Sex and the City." Also, Aidan Gillen is an actor who played Lord Nelson Rathbone in the movie "Shanghai Knights."

This is my name, except it's spelled Aydan. It's my father's middle name. My dad always says that I fit my name really well, and I think it looks better the way it's spelled.

It's my name, and I love it. It's definitely not a female name, I don't know why anyone would think that. And, just for the record, I don't have Aids.

This name is becoming very popular!

I like this name. If I had a son I'd name him Aedan, but I think I'd use it as a middle name. And I'd never use it for a girl.

This name is alright, but everytime I hear it I think of the movie "the Ring".

I personally love the name Aidan. Well that is because it is my name. I am a girl by the way, and I think it suits me quiet well. It has not been until recently that I have begun to see a lot more "Aidans" though I have yet to meet another female Aidan. I love my name.

I SWEAR THAT I HATE THIS NAME! First off, Aidan is the most delicate name ever. Every single boy who is named Aidan is a girly man/boy and probably wants to be a girl. Aidan is now becoming an overused name and is spawning many different variations of it such as Hayden. My personal favorite copycat name is Maiden. Yes folks, Maiden is a boy's name that is a "spin-off" of Aidan. This name is girly, stupid, it sounds horrible, and it's overused. Now of course, I am going to have a million people who disagree with me and are going to say that what I am saying is not true. But I don't care. Because when it all boils down, PEOPLE WHO NAME THEIR KIDS AIDAN ARE OUT OF TOUCH AND ARE NEW AGE FREAKS! 'Nuff said.

I like this name but would never use it due to its insane popularity and all the names like. Such as Hayden and others like Raiden. And just to clarify, it isn't just used by out of touch people and new age freaks. Some people do use it to honor their Irish heritage.

I think I want to barf every time I see this name. Not because it's incredibly ugly (although I don't know what kind of nicknames the kids at school will get out of it. Aid?) but because I've seen it used and parodied (Caden? Hayden? MAIDEN?) so many times on members of EITHER gender. Honestly, people. Not everyone wants to have this name. With tons of friends whose names rhyme with theirs.

Famous bearer is Aidan Mitchell, who plays Sam Malloy on The Riches.

I wish this name wasn't so incredibly popular, because I really love it, and wish I could use it on a son of my own (granted, I am fourteen and won't reproduce for at least another ten years, but still).

I like this name but it's too popular. I prefer it on boys, as was of course the way it was originally used. At least it's an authentic Gaelic name, not something someone made up like Jaden.

It's popular, yes, but it's still nice name for boy and ONLY for a boy. It fits little boys, but doesn't sound ridiculous for an old man, either.

It is a boy's name and with a fáda on the second a (Aidán) it can be pronounced A-dawn.

Aidan is Nadia backwards.

I know a guy named Aidan and he's definitely not a girly man nor does he have A.I.D.S. Anyway, I like this name, but I wouldn't use it because it's way too overused.

It's a fad name, and I dislike fad names with a passion.

I named my first born son Aidan because I have always loved the name. I especially liked the fact that it was relatively uncommon. Unfortunately, in the last two years I have been hearing it everywhere. Whilst I'm glad other people find it beautiful, I'm a little bit sad that the name is losing some of its charm and originality.

My name is Aidan, and I'm a 14 year old guy. I always liked my name, until recently. Now it seems that every boy under the age of four has this name, or some variation (Aiden, Caden, Jayden, Ayden). Plus people always spell my name weird (Adain, Aiden, Aydin, Aden).

Also, some kids at school call me AIDS. For the longest time I loved my name, because it celebrated my Scottish heritage, but now it's become more of a burden. I'm thinking of going by my middle name, since it's impossible to spell it wrong.

Historical figures:
-Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne (d. 651) a missionary who restored Christianity to Northumbria.
-Saint Aidan of Llawhaden (c.550-626), known, in Ireland, as Maedoc or Mogue, an Irish Saint who studied in Wales before establishing the monastery of Ferns, County Wexford.

Current figures
Aidan Banks, a guitarist.
Aidan Barclay, an English businessman.
Aidan Browne, a Northern Ireland TV presenter.
Aidan Chambers, an English author.
Aidan Delgado, a US anti-war activist.
Aidan Gillen, an Irish actor, whose real name is Aidan Murphy.
Aidan Girt, a Canadian drummer.
Aidan Hartley, an author and journalist.
Aidan Higgins, an Irish writer.
Aidan Hughes, an English artist.
Aidan McArdle, an Irish actor.
Aidan O'Donnell, an American child actor.
Aidan Quinn, an Irish-American actor.
Aidan White, a journalist.

Sporting figures
Aidan Collins, an English professional footballer.
Aidan Daly, a New Zealand basketball player.
Aidan Davison, an English professional footballer.
Aidan Fogarty, an Irish hurling player.
Aidan O'Brien, an Irish horse-racing trainer.
Aidan O'Keefe, an Irish footballer.

Fictional figures
Aidan, a fictional character in the computer game Guild Wars.
Aidan Bok, a fictional character from the novel Galaxy of Fear: Ghost of a Jedi by John Whitman.
Aidan Brosnan, a fictional character played by Sean Maguire in the serial drama East Enders.
Aidan of Gwynedd, a fictional character from the Deryni novels by Katherine Kurtz.
Aidan Haldane, another fictional character from the Deryni novels by Katherine Kurtz.
Aidan Lynch, a fictional character from the novel Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling.
Aidan Shaw, a fictional character played by John Corbett in the serial drama Sex and the City.

I think Aidan is a great name for a guy. I would love to name my kid this. (man I like too many names I'll need to have like 50 kids just to use all of the names I like!) LOL.

What is with all the comments saying "Aidan is a boy's name, and a boy's name only! Blah blah blah!" Aidan sounds slightly feminine, and I feel that it fits both males and females. It is more of a boy's name, because of its usage over the years, but it can be used for girl too. My cousin's name is Aidan, and she's a 15 year old girl.

Oh I like this name! It's different and cool! SWEET!

Silly name given to their sons by Americans who only have the most tenuous and superficial connection to Irish culture, and little connection to their own, but who want to capitalize on Irish trendiness. The kind of people who probably couldn't even find Ireland on the map. Skip this name, prospective parents.

As mentioned in a few comments prior:

Aidan Fogarty, an Irish hurling player.
Aidan O'Brien, an Irish horse-racing trainer.
Aidan O'Keefe, an Irish footballer.
Aidan Gillen, an Irish actor, whose real name is Aidan Murphy.
Aidan Higgins, an Irish writer.
Aidan Browne, a Northern Ireland TV presenter.

Wait a minute, I thought you said only Americans who were trying to have some Irish culture named their kids this. Looks like you don't know what you are talking about. And what's the big deal if Americans name their sons this?

Get over yourself, and the use of Aiden. We chose it simply because we like it, and not because of any "tenuous and superficial connection to Irish culture".

Is it not meant to be Aidán with a fádá over the a. So it's pronounced A-dawn, not A-din. In my experience anyway.

This name is over-used by teenaged mothers, I cannot stand the name anymore.

Of Irish origin, meaning 'warm'.

Bo Bice (of 'American Idol' fame) and wife Caroline gave this name to their son in 2005.

Why would anyone want to name their daughter this name? When you name a girl a boy name, you not only sound ridiculous and trendy, but you take away enough of the masculinity of the name for it to sound weird on a boy, but on a girl is sounds WAYYYY too butchy. So in truth you ruin the name for both genders. Why would you want to give a girl a name that has been a male name for perhaps thousands of years? Why not give a daughter the name Samuel, Steven, Jonathan, Markus, or Robert as well? Let us face it, many Gaelic MALE names have a SLIGHT feminine ring to them, to a Anglo ear. Because Anglo names for men are rough, often macho and meaning things like spears and helmets and such. While there is nothing wrong with that, there is CERTAINLY nothing wrong with a male name that means Warmth or any such thing and is more melodious to the ear.

Give girls the names of noble women, and give boys the names of men. Please!

Why do we in America have to take things from other parts of the world, or our own past history and bastardize it and make it a ridiculous cliche, or a trend? Why can't we just leave some things as they always have been, like gender-linked names.

My wife and I named our son Aiden because we simply like the name. No connection to Irish heritage or a famous person. We just like the way it sounds, masculine yet not too rough, and THOUGHT it was uncommon. Only after we had settled on it did we find out how popular it is - and all the names that sounds like it. We are certainly disappointed about that, but ultimately we are happy with our choice and I have never seen a more appropriately named child. He is certainly a fiery spirit!

My best friend in the entire world is named Aidan. She is a girl. I do not think it suits a little boy as much. Her name matches her red hair and her "firey" personality. I think it suits girls just as much as guys and that it is a lovely name.

It's a very cool name, but sadly when I'm older it'll be like, "oooh it's my dad's name!"

I love this name, but the fact that this name has become so disgustingly popular and common is enough of a reason for me not to use it, even as a middle name. One day, we'll have insufferable jocks, frat boys, and Republican politicians by this name in this world because Americans have started to overuse the name. It pains me to think about it, but I think we can easily say that this beautiful name isn't what it used to be, or won't be when that inevitably happens. This name also rhymes with other immensely popular and common names in America today, and will thus get negative reactions. Too bad, because I used to be able to associate the name with something like Waltz for Aidan, a beautiful track by Mogwai. I think this name sounds plain weird on females, especially to those who are actually used to this name being masculine, which it is. If you like this for a girl, you could always pick Ada, right? Kind of like you pick Brenda rather than Brendan, Julia rather than Julian, Eva rather than Evan, etc etc. The name isn't one of those ridiculously masculine names, but it doesn't really even strike me as a tomboy name or a name for androgynous females, let alone indie rocker types, who'd rather not have such a trendy, overused name.

I really like this name. I live in the Netherlands where I only know one boy with this name and he is half Turkish so it's probably not even this name at all. I'd like to give this to a son for a middle name later but I'm afraid that ten years from now the name will be "so 2000's" which would be a shame because it's really a beautiful name.

My brother was named Aidan after my mother's friend from Ireland suggested it [after first pushing for Quiggley, ew] back in 1995. At first most people commented on how unusual it was. Then, when he was about 5 or 6, we started meeting little girls named Aidan, and people began butchering the spelling. But the real kicker for me was that every one of these people who started using Aidan/Aiden/Ayden/Aydin/etc. thought that they were so orginal. Please, stop using Aidan for a female and stop butchering the spelling. It is a fine name as it is, there is no need for you to be "different". Because you're just being different like everybody else.

About five years ago, I would've said 'Hey, what a great name! It's so unusual and unheard of!' Now it seems like everybody has heard of this name. In fact, every childless couple I meet seems to want to name one of their children Aidan.

All right, for all of you simple-minded people that think that this name is ONLY for boys, then you have got to be kidding me. Aidan is a UNISEX name. And for those of you that do not understand the meaning of UNISEX, here is a definition:

Unisex name: A unisex name is a name that can be used for both boys AND girls.

Aidan is a strong and beautiful name. Personally it sounds soft and feminine to me, but also strong. It is a beautiful name and bears a beautiful meaning. ANYONE, girl or boy, who has this named is blessed with a wonderful name. So for all of you who think this is a bad name or is not suited for girls, think again. My name is Aidan, and yes, I am a girl. It's perfect for both sexes, so please be more considerate and think before you trash people's names, especially one so beautiful.

But it's NOT really a unisex name. It's ALWAYS been a boys name until very very recently. For centuries it was completely masculine. Your usage is weak enough that pretty much anything can be a unisex name. Just because a few people started giving it to girls too when it became really popular doesn't make it truly unisex.

Only name your child this if you really like the way their last initial sounds with it because they surely will be called by it A LOT considering how popular and trendy this name is. This name seems rather incomplete to me and with all the many different spellings, it would be constantly misspelled. The similar names like Jayden, Kaden, Hayden could also be confusing and/or annoying at times.

I like the sound of the name Aidan, but it's dreadfully common for my taste. And yes, it is a totally masculine name. I can't quite figure out why people think it's a girls' name. Whatever.

A "trendy" name. If you name your child this, expect him to share the name with at least 2 or 3 other kids in his class as well.

I always thought Aidan sounded like a girl's name even though I never met a girl named Aidan. It seems like a fine name for little boys, but when I meet a grown man with the name Aidan, it feels unfitting and awkward, like a shirt 2 sizes too small. I'm surprised that so many posters are so passionately opposed to this name for girls. If you don't like it then don't name your daughter Aidan, but don't take other people doing so as a personal offense or crime against humanity.

I don't get the appeal of this name in any form. It sounds so juvenile.

I prefer the name Aiden over Brayden, Caden, & Jaydon. The name makes me think of the actor Aidan Quinn. I also prefer the spellings Aidan, Aiden over Aydan, etc.

I love the name Aidan because it is Gaelic, I like how it sounds, and it means fiery. I don't think it sounds wimpy or anything but soft yet strong. It's a shame that it is so popular though. I liked this name before many people began naming their kids Aidan. Yeah I do see where it would be annoying when people would think your name was Hayden or Cayden or Brayden. But there are other names that have that issue (example: Jason and Dason, Ryan and Brian, Justin and Dustin).

This is my middle name and I'm rather indifferent towards it. My mom chose this for me back in 1994, when almost no one was being named this. Today, every other kid is named Aidan or one of its awful variants. Even though this name isn't really my style, I just want to reiterate how important it is to spell it correctly. Aaden, Aedin, and Aydun just aren't right.

Aidan is the "sweetest" name ever for a baby boy and "cute" name for a little boy. A "cool" name for a teenage boy. And a "elegant" "strong" and "sophisticated" name for a handsome man! "Aidan" is my son's name and don't think I could've made a better choice. I love his name!

I don't know what people mean about it being extremely popular in the U.S. I've lived here my whole life and never met an Aidan. One Jayden, but that's not exactly the same. I used this name on a character in my story and I think it's a strong, beautiful masculine name. I'm not such a fan of it as a girl's name, but *shrug*. I don't think anybody should restrict their usage of a name just because they're of a different heritage or the name is popular at the time. Names are rather enduring things and don't have to fit within societal norms or 'fads'. Whatever floats your boat, man.

Overused in the U.S? I live there and I have never ever met a single Aidan. I personally like this name. Like not love. It sounds like a sweet name, it fits on both sexes because of that. I'd recommend this name. =D

Most certainly not my style. It makes me think of sheep (and not the woolly kind).

I've never met an Aidan in my life. And I think it's a great name! (But only for boys. Not for girls. Ever.)

I don't care much for this name, but this is by far the best spelling there is.

It really isn't a bad name besides it's obnoxious trendiness and popularity. The only out-off with having this name is seeing so many others with it.

I really like the name Aidan. I think it's a strong masculine name. I might have named a future son this, but I have a nephew called Aidan.

My name is Aidan, and I'm a girl. I find it silly that people seem so upset that someone would dare use this name as a name for a girl.

I think it's a wonderful, strong name, and it works just as well for a female as it does a male.

The name Aidan comes form the Irish Aodhán, meaning "little fire", from old Irish "Aedh" fire, with the diminutive "án" added.

Aidan is the illustrator/writer of the Book of Kells in "The Secret of Kells" which is an animated movie based on Irish Mythology.

Nice name. I've known both a male Aidan and a female Aidan and they both suited their name very well.

This is a beautiful name, but too bad it had to become trendy :((

I actually like the name Aidan. I think it is very lovely and handsome name I would call my son and my son only Aidan, as in my opinion it sounds not as nice on a girl :(

Aidan would be an okay name if it and its cousins weren't so popular. There are kids named Aidan, Aiden, Aidyn, Braden, Brayden, Caden, Jaden, Jayden, and Hayden running around everywhere.

This name was cool forty years ago. It may well be cool in another forty years time.

Right now, it's definitely worn out its welcome.

This name has definitely overstayed its welcome. But I will say that I prefer this particular spelling, without unnecessary y's or e's or what have you.

Sounds like a girly-man name to me-- when used in English/American context.

Sorry.

This name would have been fine if not for the rhyming fad from the 1990s and 2000s. I agree with an above poster that this is a child's name, one that a person will outgrow very quickly. It would be very strange to meet an adult named Aidan -- at least in the US and Canada (minus Newfoundland). It was pretty much unused prior to 1990.

I love the name Aidan. I also like it spelled Aiden.

I love the name Aidan because it's Irish (like me) but I feel that it is now becoming too popular not to mention, for some odd reason, people have been naming girls Aidan. Rest assured, Aidan is a male name.

It's probably not very accurate, but with a few tweaks I believe the name Aidan can actually mean 'eternal tale' in Japanese!

Aidan is not really a fad name because it wasn't simply made up in the last 20 years and has been around for a long time. I suppose it may seem like one though if it has become so frequent all at once. Although I'm not really bothered by it, I think it's silly using Aidan on girls. It may not be as typically masculine as John or David, but it is still more suited to a boy, which is the gender the name was meant for. Just leave it be.

I love my name! Im a girl, 14, and everybody thinks it's cool that I have a guys name. I think it's cool for a girl, and it fits really well with my pesonality. After all, it's not as bad as my friends' name being Barry! My name is flipping awesome!

If Aidan has a female twin, you could call her Nadia. Or Diana! Both are anagrams of Aidan.

Aidan Turner is an Irish actor, best known for his role as Mitchell the vampire in BBC's Being Human.

Aidan Turner also plays the dwarf Kili in the incredible, awesome new Hobbit Trilogy. I really liked the movie, and Aidan Turner's portrayal was very good. I would probably never name a child Aidan, however, even though I like the Irish sound.