Auden: Baby Name of the Day

The baby name Auden combines a shining meaning with a mainstream sound.

Thanks to Mirabel for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

WHAT DOES THE NAME AUDEN MEAN?

Auden started out as a last name.

It almost certainly comes from the Old English masculine name Ealdwine, meaning old friend. 

While this form died out after the Norman Conquest, it survives as variants Alvin, Aldus, Aldous, Elwin, Elwyn, and possibly even Elvis – though that last one is open to debate.

Alden might be the most common form of Ealdwine, even appearing in the Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources. Spellings Aldan, Aldin, and Aldyn have been used, all of which resemble “olden” and hint at the name’s origins.

But Auden has history, too. It also benefits from the letters AU.

AU is the symbol for gold on the periodic table, from the Latin word for the element: aurum.

While names like Aurelia and Aurelio come directly from golden aurum, most AU names claim other roots and meanings. Still, names like Austin, Aurora, August, and Audrey benefit from the visual resemblance. 

Regardless of the name’s origins, we know it came into use as a surname.

LITERARY INSPIRATION: W.H. AUDEN

An English family gave us two accomplished Audens.

English geologist John Bicknell Auden spent his long career with the Geological Society of India. A mountain pass in the Himalayas is named Auden’s Col in honor of his contributions.

But it’s John baby brother, Wystan Hugh Auden, who became a household name. Born in Yorkshire in 1907, he eventually left the United Kingdom for the United States and became a citizen.

He traveled widely, writing on an all manner of topics: love and politics, social issues, and religion. His 1947 poem “The Age of Anxiety” won a Pulitzer Prize in Poetry.

Auden also collaborated on films and plays, including Igor Stravinsky’s 1951 opera The Rake’s Progress.

His legacy lends the baby name Auden an air of creativity and sophistication. It fits with other literary surnames, like Hawthorne and Tennyson.

The poet’s works continued to grow in familiarity after his 1973 death.

HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME AUDEN?

The surname Auden leapt to given name status in 1975. It seems likely that the poet made enough of an impact on popular culture to increase use of the name just a little.

That’s the year it debuted in the US data, as compiled by the Social Security Administration. Six boys were named Auden that year. 

It didn’t catch on, though, until the 1990s. After all, it looked like a mix of Austin’s AU- and Aiden’s -DEN, and it must’ve seemed like a masculine form of Audrey with the shared AUD. The mix of stylish sounds helped push the popularity of the name Auden to new heights.

The baby name Auden peaked for boys in 2020 with 128 births. As of 2023, it declined to just 79 newborn boys.

IS AUDEN A UNISEX NAME?

Also noteworthy: the name rose in use for girls beginning in the 1990s. As of 2023, it was given to 97 girls. That marks the first time usage for girls outpaced boys.

Celebrites like model Amber Valletta and actor Kelsey Grammer have used the name for sons, but actor Noah Wyle welcomed daughter Auden Florence in 2005. She’s now an actress, too.

Both Wyle and Grammer have confirmed that their name choice is a nod to the poet.

RARE BUT WEARABLE

Call the baby name Auden rare, but very wearable.

It’s nickname-proof, though Audie might serve as an affectionate short form. (For what it’s worth, the car company’s name is a play on founder August Horch’s surname. Horch means listen in German, and in Latin it’s audi. Think audio.)

With a rich literary history, it’s easy to feel like this name has plenty of history.

And it fits right in with so many unisex, two-syllable, ends-in-n favorites, like Rowan and Lennon.

This could be the perfect name for parents after a stands-out/fits-in kind of choice.

What do you think of the baby name Auden? 

First published on November 30, 2016, this post was revised on April 15, 2025.