Kaidan
About Kaidan
Kaidan is a masculine name with multiple potential origins, most commonly associated with Japanese and Gaelic roots. In Japanese, it can mean "mysterious story" or "ghost story," while as an Anglicized form of the Irish name Caden, it connects to "cath" meaning "battle." The name gained popularity in English-speaking countries in the early 2000s, part of the trend toward names with the appealing "aid" sound. Its rise coincided with similar names like Aidan, Jayden, and Brayden. Kaidan offers versatility with its cross-cultural connections and modern feel. The spelling variant Kayden is also common. Parents are often drawn to its contemporary sound combined with meaningful origins, making it appealing for those seeking a name that feels both current and substantial.
Pronounced KY-dahn.
As of October 2026, Kaidan ranked #5995 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #1854 in 2011.
AI-written. Reviewed by Pamela Redmond
Sources: US popularity data is from the Social Security Administration. Meanings and origins are from Nameberry's name references.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #1,896 | 77 | 40.1 |
| 2015 | #2,247 | 60 | 31.3 |
| 2016 | #2,397 | 54 | 28.5 |
| 2017 | #2,773 | 44 | 23.8 |
| 2018 | #3,336 | 34 | 18.7 |
| 2019 | #3,299 | 35 | 19.5 |
| 2020 | #4,078 | 25 | 14.5 |
| 2021 | #3,538 | 32 | 18.3 |
| 2022 | #2,887 | 44 | 25.2 |
| 2023 | #4,970 | 20 | 11.7 |
| 2024 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | — | 0 | 0 |
Similar names
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Kaidan on lists
Kaidan in pop culture
- Kaidan Rowe
character in Wendy Higgins's novel "Sweet Evil"
- Kaidan Alenko
character in the Mass Effect video game series
- Kaidan
Japanese term for a ghost story