NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Kadan

A gender-neutral name of Arabic origin meaning "someone's dear one".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Kadan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kadan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4678, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 9 births.

This profile covers 38 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2002 to 2010. 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 38 living people in the UK are called Kadan. 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 2011 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Kadan ranked #4678 for boys in England and Wales in 2010, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2009, when 9 boys were registered as Kadan.
  • About 38 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kadan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4678

2010

Births in 2010

3

Latest year

Peak year

2009

9 births

Estimated living

38

2026

Meaning

What does Kadan mean?

The name Kadan is believed to have its origins in the ancient Sumerian language, one of the earliest known written languages of the world, dating back to around 3500 BCE. The name Kadan is thought to be derived from the Sumerian word "kad" which means "to protect" or "to guard", suggesting that the name may have been given to individuals with a strong, protective nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kadan can be found in the Sumerian cuneiform tablets, which were clay tablets used for writing in ancient Mesopotamia. These tablets contain various records, including lists of names, suggesting that the name Kadan was in use during that time period.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Kadan. One of the earliest known figures was Kadan of Uruk, a Sumerian warrior and military leader who lived in the 3rd millennium BCE. He was renowned for his bravery and skill in battle, and his name became synonymous with strength and protection.

Another prominent figure with the name Kadan was Kadan al-Nuri, a 12th century Islamic scholar and jurist from modern-day Iraq. He was known for his extensive knowledge of Islamic law and his contributions to the field of jurisprudence. His works were widely studied and influential in the Islamic world during that time.

In the realm of literature, Kadan al-Baghdadi was a renowned 9th century Arabic poet and writer from Baghdad. His poetic works were celebrated for their beauty and eloquence, and he is considered one of the most influential poets of the Abbasid era.

Moving forward in time, Kadan Singh was a 17th century Rajput warrior and military commander from the Indian subcontinent. He was known for his loyalty, bravery, and strategic skills on the battlefield, and his name is still revered among the Rajput community.

In more recent history, Kadan Yazdani was an Iranian painter and artist who lived in the late 20th century. He was renowned for his vibrant and expressive works, which often depicted Persian culture and traditions. His paintings are celebrated for their unique style and their ability to capture the essence of Iranian life.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Kadan. While the name may have originated in ancient Sumerian culture, it has been adopted and used across various regions and cultures, each adding their own unique interpretations and meanings to this powerful and enduring name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Kadan over time

The chart below shows babies named Kadan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Kadan, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2010, compared with 9 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Kadan
02579200220062010

Decades

Kadan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kadan 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 #4678 3 1
2000s #3045 35 7

Related

Names similar to Kadan

FAQ

Kadan: questions and answers

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

In 2010, Kadan was ranked #4678 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Kadan most popular?

The peak year on record was 2009, with 9 babies registered as Kadan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Kadan?

A gender-neutral name of Arabic origin meaning "someone's dear one".

How many people are called Kadan in the UK?

A total of 38 babies have been registered as Kadan across the 8 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.