NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Elden

An Old English name meaning "from the old valley".

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.

Elden is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Elden popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 10 births.

This profile covers 86 England and Wales registrations across 17 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 86 living people in the UK are called Elden. 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

  • Elden ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2017, when 10 boys were registered as Elden.
  • About 86 living people in the UK are estimated to have Elden as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3254

2024

Births in 2024

6

Latest year

Peak year

2017

10 births

Estimated living

86

2026

Meaning

What does Elden mean?

The name Elden is of Old English origin, derived from the words "eld" meaning "age" or "old age" and "en" meaning "one." Thus, the literal translation of the name Elden is "the old one" or "the aged one." The name dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, around the 5th to 11th centuries AD.

Elden was a relatively common name among the Anglo-Saxons, particularly in the regions of Wessex and Mercia. It was often used to denote respect for elders or those with wisdom and experience. The name can be found in some ancient Anglo-Saxon records and chronicles, although it is not mentioned in any major religious texts or scriptures.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Elden dates back to the 8th century, when an Anglo-Saxon nobleman named Elden of Mercia was mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Another notable figure was Elden the Wise, a scholar and monk who lived in the 10th century and was known for his extensive knowledge of herbs and medicinal plants.

Throughout history, there have been several other notable individuals with the name Elden. Elden of Lindisfarne (c. 650 - 700 AD) was a renowned Anglo-Saxon monk and scholar who contributed to the spread of Christianity in Northumbria. Elden the Scribe (c. 980 - 1040 AD) was a skilled calligrapher and illuminator of manuscripts in the Benedictine monastery of Bury St. Edmunds.

In the 12th century, Elden of Winchcombe (c. 1120 - 1190) was a renowned architect and stonemason who worked on several notable churches and abbeys in England, including Gloucester Cathedral. Elden Woodward (1561 - 1625) was an English writer and poet who gained some recognition during the Renaissance period for his satirical works.

Another notable figure was Elden Halliwell (1785 - 1856), a British antiquarian and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of early English literature and language. He is particularly known for his work on the plays of William Shakespeare and his efforts in preserving ancient manuscripts and documents.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Elden over time

The chart below shows babies named Elden registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, 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 Elden, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Elden
035810200520142024

Decades

Elden by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Elden 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 #3310 23 4
2010s #3411 51 9
2000s #4215 12 4

Related

Names similar to Elden

FAQ

Elden: questions and answers

How popular is the name Elden in the UK right now?

In 2024, Elden was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Elden most popular?

The peak year on record was 2017, with 10 babies registered as Elden in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Elden?

An Old English name meaning "from the old valley".

How many people are called Elden in the UK?

A total of 86 babies have been registered as Elden across the 17 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.