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Caden

Boy name · 220 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Caden: 220 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 22 births in 2008.

Caden has enjoyed a brisk climb in popularity across Scotland and the wider English-speaking world, though its origins are debated. Most often considered a modern Anglicised spelling of the Irish Gaelic name *Cathán*, it means "little battle" or "warrior." This root connects it powerfully to the legendary warrior Cú Chulainn, a central figure in Ulster Cycle mythology. The name feels distinctly modern but is sometimes linked to the biblical Cadan, a variant of Cadmus. A further note: this name's rise correlates strongly with a trend for surnames-as-first-names, as it may also derive from the Scottish surname McCadden.