Holden
Boy name · #297 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Holden? In official American birth records, Holden has been tracked continuously since 1902, giving it 123 years of documented American history.
Holden ranks #297 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 1,140 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #291, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,579 boys born in 2025 was named Holden.
Babies named Holden per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 123-year story
Holden first appears in the Social Security records in 1902, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2018, when 1,732 boys were named Holden — good for #217 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Holden against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Holden in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Holden is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Holden is most common
Geography matters for names, and Holden is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Holden is most common in WV (3.4 per 1,000), ND (3 per 1,000), SD (2.6 per 1,000), ME (2.6 per 1,000), MS (1.9 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.8 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Holden is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Holden
Statistically, parents drawn to Holden tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kaiden, Camden, Raiden, Zayden, and Kayden.
KaidenCamdenRaidenZaydenKaydenAydenAldenCayden
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Holden | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,140 | #297 |
| 2024 | 1,209 | #281 |
| 2023 | 1,176 | #286 |
| 2022 | 1,219 | #285 |
| 2021 | 1,507 | #236 |
| 2020 | 1,648 | #227 |
| 2019 | 1,468 | #250 |
| 2018 | 1,732 | #217 |
| 2017 | 1,531 | #242 |
| 2016 | 1,356 | #270 |
| 2015 | 1,254 | #291 |
| 2014 | 1,218 | #291 |
| 2013 | 1,206 | #289 |
| 2012 | 1,177 | #296 |
| 2011 | 1,114 | #299 |
| 2010 | 1,011 | #316 |
| 2009 | 955 | #334 |
| 2008 | 877 | #357 |
| 2007 | 812 | #378 |
| 2006 | 777 | #385 |
| 2005 | 830 | #356 |
| 2004 | 747 | #371 |
| 2003 | 619 | #415 |
| 2002 | 614 | #413 |
| 2001 | 547 | #442 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Holden?
In official American birth records, the name Holden first appeared in 1902 (over 123 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 123 years.
Is Holden a popular boy name?
Holden ranked #297 among boys in 2025 with 1,140 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #291.
When was the name Holden most popular?
Holden peaked in 2018, when 1,732 American boys received the name (ranked #217 that year). Since 2018 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Holden?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,579 newborn American boys was named Holden. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.