Caedmon

An ancient name with poetic and mystical qualities, Caedmon was borne by a 7th-century poet, notable for being the first English poet to have their name recorded.

Caedmon appears in the 8th-century historical accounts of the Venerable Bede and is described as cowherder, caring for the animals at what is now known as Whitby Abbey. He was illiterate until he awoke, having received poetic inspiration from a dream. He went on to become an accomplished poet, a dedicated monk, and later, a saint.

The exact etymology of the name is unknown but one theory is that it comes from Celtic elements meaning "battle", or perhaps "wise warrior", though other scholars have linked it to Adam Kadmon, the first and most perfect man in Jewish and Christian mysticism.

It is typically pronounced as KAD-mohn or KAD-muhn, though KAYD-mohn is also heard, and may be more intuitive in the contemporary world.

Pronounced KAD-mun.

As of October 2026, Caedmon ranked #9868 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #1837 in 2010.