The name Holden is a girl's name meaning "hollow valley".

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Literary hero Holden Caulfield of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye is now inspiring the names of baby girls. His sister Phoebe’s name would be the more conventional pick, but if girls are being called Hayden and Hudson, Holden is certainly fair game as well.

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Holden

The name Holden peaked for girls at #5220 in 2018. The name is most popular in HOLDEN and HOLDEN. Holden is also used for boys, ranking #281 in 2024.

The name Holden is a boy's name of English origin meaning "hollow valley".

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Holden is a classic case of a name that jumped out of a book and onto birth certificates--though it took quite a while. Parents who loved J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye are flocking to the name of its hero, Holden Caulfield -- not coincidentally in tune with the Hudson-Hayden-Colton field of names.
 
(Trivia note: Salinger supposedly came up with the name while looking at a movie poster promoting a film starring William Holden and Joan Caulfield, though other sources say he was named after Salinger's friend Holden Bowler.) Another impetus was provided by a soap opera character introduced in 1985.
 Among the celebs who have chosen Holden are Brendan Fraser and Mira Sorvino.
 In Australia, only a car-lover would choose this name, which is inextricably linked with the car-brand.

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The name Holden is currently ranked #281 in U.S. births. and peaked for boys at #217 in 2018. The name is most popular in HOLDEN, HOLDEN, and HOLDEN. Holden is occasionally used for girls in 2024.

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