UK girl's name
Aideen
Feminine name of Irish origin meaning "little fire".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Aideen is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Aideen popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5591, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 5 births.
This profile covers 34 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 1996 to 2019. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 127 living people in the UK are called Aideen. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2020 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Aideen ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 5 girls were registered as Aideen.
- • Aideen ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #424 in 2019.
- • About 127 living people in the UK are estimated to have Aideen as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5591
2019
Births in 2019
3
Latest year
Peak year
1998
5 births
Estimated living
127
2026
Meaning
What does Aideen mean?
The name Aideen is of Irish Gaelic origin and is believed to have derived from the old Irish word "aídiu" meaning "fire" or "ardent". It is a feminine name that has been in use since ancient times in Ireland.
Aideen is closely related to the Irish name Aidin, which is a variant spelling. The name is also similar to the Welsh name Aedan, which has a similar meaning related to fire or passion.
In Irish mythology, Aideen was the name of a beautiful and passionate princess who was the subject of many legendary tales. She was known for her fiery spirit and unwavering devotion to her loved ones.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Aideen can be found in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient chronicle of Irish history dating back to the 15th century. The annals mention an Aideen who was the daughter of a prominent Irish chieftain.
Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Aideen. One of the most famous was Aideen O'Doherty (c. 1570-1629), an Irish noblewoman and political activist who played a significant role in the Irish Rebellion of 1641.
Another notable Aideen was Aideen Ni Cholgan (c. 1300-1380), a renowned Irish poet and bard who composed many beautiful poems and songs celebrating Irish culture and history.
In the 19th century, Aideen Fitzgibbon (1823-1901) was an Irish author and journalist who wrote extensively about Irish social and political issues of her time.
More recently, Aideen O'Sullivan (1907-1991) was an Irish actress and singer who performed on stage and in films throughout the mid-20th century.
Aideen King (born 1949) is a contemporary Irish writer and academic who has published several acclaimed works of fiction and non-fiction.
Overall, the name Aideen has a rich history and deep roots in Irish culture, dating back to ancient times. It has been borne by many notable figures throughout the centuries and continues to be a popular choice for parents seeking a distinctive and meaningful Irish name for their daughter.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Aideen over time
The chart below shows babies named Aideen registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Aideen, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Aideen by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Aideen was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5696 | 12 | 4 |
| 2000s | #4833 | 10 | 3 |
| 1990s | #3217 | 12 | 3 |
Geography
Where Aideen is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Aideen. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Aideen ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #424 in 2019.
Across the UK
Aideen in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#424 in 2019
18 years of NISRA records, 94 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Aideen
-
Aideen Nolan
badminton player
female badminton player from Bermuda
1936-
Related
Names similar to Aideen
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Aideen: questions and answers
How popular is the name Aideen in the UK right now?
In 2019, Aideen was ranked #5591 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Aideen most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 5 babies registered as Aideen in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Aideen?
Feminine name of Irish origin meaning "little fire".
How many people are called Aideen in the UK?
A total of 34 babies have been registered as Aideen across the 10 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here and 94 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Aideen most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Aideen ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #424 in 2019. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.