UK boy's name
Caedan
Short battle or fierce warrior; Celtic name of Scottish origin.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Caedan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Caedan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4812, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 5 births.
This profile covers 16 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2008 to 2017. 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 26 living people in the UK are called Caedan. 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 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Caedan ranked #4812 for boys in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 5 boys were registered as Caedan.
- • Caedan ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #358 in 2016.
- • About 26 living people in the UK are estimated to have Caedan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4812
2017
Births in 2017
3
Latest year
Peak year
2011
5 births
Estimated living
26
2026
Meaning
What does Caedan mean?
The name Caedan has its roots in the Gaelic language and is believed to have originated in Ireland and Scotland during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old Irish word "cáedán," which means "warrior" or "battle." This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who were known for their bravery and strength in combat.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Caedan can be found in ancient Irish manuscripts dating back to the 8th century AD. These manuscripts often mentioned individuals with this name, indicating that it was widely used among the Celtic population of the time.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Caedan. One of the most famous was Caedan mac Gabhrain, a 6th-century king of the Scots who ruled over the kingdom of Dál Riata. He was renowned for his military prowess and played a significant role in the expansion of Scottish territories.
Another prominent figure was Caedan mac Ninnidh, an Irish abbot who lived in the 7th century. He was the founder of the monastery of Lann Léire (now known asLyn or Magheralin) in County Down, Northern Ireland. Caedan mac Ninnidh was highly respected for his piety and was later venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.
In the 9th century, Caedan mac Náir was an influential Irish scholar and poet. He was a member of the renowned literary institution known as the Céli Dé (Culdees), a monastic order that played a crucial role in preserving and promoting Irish literature and culture during the Middle Ages.
Moving forward in time, Caedan Ó Conchobhair was an Irish chieftain who lived in the 16th century. He was a member of the powerful O'Conor dynasty and played a significant role in the conflicts between the English and Irish during the Tudor conquest of Ireland.
It is worth noting that while the name Caedan has its origins in the Celtic regions of Ireland and Scotland, it has also been adopted and used in other parts of the world over the centuries, particularly in areas with strong Irish and Scottish cultural influences.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Caedan over time
The chart below shows babies named Caedan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Caedan, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2017, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Caedan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Caedan 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 | #3978 | 12 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3687 | 4 | 1 |
Geography
Where Caedan is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Caedan. 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.
Caedan ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #358 in 2016.
Across the UK
Caedan in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#358 in 2016
3 years of NISRA records, 10 total registered
Related
Names similar to Caedan
- Charlie 104,761
- Callum 65,796
- Connor 53,072
- Cameron 40,394
- Charles 33,091
- Christopher 26,849
- Caleb 15,553
- Corey 12,622
- Carter 11,505
- Cody 11,075
- Conor 10,298
- Christian 9,695
FAQ
Caedan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Caedan in the UK right now?
In 2017, Caedan was ranked #4812 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Caedan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 5 babies registered as Caedan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Caedan?
Short battle or fierce warrior; Celtic name of Scottish origin.
How many people are called Caedan in the UK?
A total of 16 babies have been registered as Caedan across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here and 10 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Caedan most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Caedan ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #358 in 2016. 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.