UK name, mostly boys
Auden
An English masculine name of uncertain meaning, possibly of Old English origin.
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.
Auden is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Auden popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1859, with 13 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 21 births.
This profile covers 169 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2005 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 62% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 168 living people in the UK are called Auden. 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
- • Auden ranked #1859 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 13 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 21 boys were registered as Auden.
- • About 168 living people in the UK are estimated to have Auden as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 98.3% of Auden registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1859
2024
Births in 2024
13
Latest year
Peak year
2023
21 births
Estimated living
168
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Auden
In England and Wales birth records, Auden has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 98.3% of registrations are for boys and 1.7% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Auden registered for boys
- Ranked #1,859 in 2024
- 13 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2023 (21 births)
Auden registered for girls
- Ranked #5,730 in 2015
- 3 girls registered in 2015
- Peak: 2015 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Auden mean?
The name Auden has its origins in the Old English language and is derived from the word "aud," which means wealth or fortune. The name gained popularity during the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, particularly between the 5th and 11th centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Auden can be found in the Domesday Book, a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name was primarily used in the northern regions of England during this time.
In the 13th century, the name Auden appeared in various historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented landowners in England. One notable bearer of the name was Sir Auden de Valence, a prominent nobleman and military commander who served under King Edward I in the late 13th century.
During the Renaissance period, the name Auden was associated with several notable figures. One of the most renowned was the English poet W.H. Auden (1907-1973), considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. His works, including "Funeral Blues" and "September 1, 1939," explored themes of love, politics, and the human condition.
Another famous bearer of the name was the American composer and songwriter Wystan Hugh Auden (1907-1973), who was a contemporary of W.H. Auden and shared the same birth year and date of death. His compositions included operas, ballets, and film scores, and he was known for his collaborations with writers like Christopher Isherwood.
In the field of literature, the name Auden was also associated with the American novelist and short story writer Mary Auden (1869-1941), who was part of the early 20th-century literary movement known as the Chicago Renaissance.
Lastly, the name Auden has historical connections to the world of sports. One notable bearer was Auden Tresidder (1913-1983), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club in the 1930s and 1940s.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Auden over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Auden in England and Wales, from 2005 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 Auden, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 13 births in 2024, compared with 21 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Auden by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Auden 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 | #1688 | 73 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2842 | 85 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3803 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Auden
- 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
Auden: questions and answers
How popular is the name Auden in the UK right now?
In 2024, Auden was ranked #1859 for boys in England and Wales, with 13 births registered.
When was Auden most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 21 babies registered as Auden in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Auden?
An English masculine name of uncertain meaning, possibly of Old English origin.
How many people are called Auden in the UK?
A total of 169 babies have been registered as Auden across the 18 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.