UK boy's name
Aodhan
Of Irish origin, meaning "fire, fiery".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Aodhan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Aodhan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2019, with 15 births.
This profile covers 196 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland 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 20% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,213 living people in the UK are called Aodhan. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Aodhan ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2019, when 15 boys were registered as Aodhan.
- • Aodhan ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #108 in 2024.
- • About 1,213 living people in the UK are estimated to have Aodhan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2019
15 births
Estimated living
1,213
2026
Meaning
What does Aodhan mean?
The name Aodhan has its origins in the Irish language, tracing back to the early medieval period in Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic word "Áedán," which means "fire" or "little fire." This name was particularly popular among the ancient Celtic inhabitants of Ireland, Scotland, and parts of Britain.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Aodhan can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. It mentions an Irish king named Aodhan mac Gabrain, who ruled the kingdom of Dalriada in the late 6th century AD. Aodhan was a common name among the ruling class and nobility during this era.
In the 7th century, the name appears in the historical record of the Isle of Iona, where St. Aodhan (also known as St. Evan) was a renowned bishop and monastic leader. His life and teachings were documented in various ecclesiastical texts, further solidifying the name's association with early Christian history in the region.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Aodhan continued to be popular among Irish and Scottish families. One notable figure was Aodhan Ó Néill (c. 1380-1455), an Irish king and chieftain of the powerful Ó Néill dynasty. He played a significant role in the political and military conflicts of his time.
In the 16th century, Aodhan mac Muireadhaigh Ó Cobhthaigh (c. 1550-1629), an Irish poet and scholar, gained recognition for his contributions to Irish literature. His works, written in the Gaelic language, provide valuable insights into the cultural and literary traditions of that period.
Another prominent figure bearing the name Aodhan was Aodhan Ó Rathaille (c. 1670-1726), a renowned Irish-language poet and storyteller. His compositions, which often celebrated the natural beauty of Ireland and its people, have left a lasting impact on the country's literary heritage.
While the name Aodhan has deep roots in Irish and Scottish history, it has also been adopted and adapted in other cultures over time. However, its origins and cultural significance remain firmly tied to the Celtic traditions of the British Isles.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Aodhan over time
The chart below shows babies named Aodhan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Aodhan, the clearest high point is 2019. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 15 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Aodhan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Aodhan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3266 | 33 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2337 | 81 | 9 |
| 2000s | #2236 | 63 | 9 |
| 1990s | #2202 | 19 | 4 |
Geography
Where Aodhan is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Aodhan. 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.
Aodhan ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #108 in 2024.
Across the UK
Aodhan in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#727 in 2024
21 years of NRS records, 78 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#108 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 947 total registered
Related
Names similar to Aodhan
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Aodhan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Aodhan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Aodhan was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Aodhan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2019, with 15 babies registered as Aodhan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Aodhan?
Of Irish origin, meaning "fire, fiery".
How many people are called Aodhan in the UK?
A total of 196 babies have been registered as Aodhan across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 78 more in Scotland and 947 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Aodhan most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Aodhan ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #108 in 2024. 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.