The baby name Jayden defines a generation.
Thanks to Jadon for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME JAYDEN MEAN?
In the Old Testament, Jadon appears as a minor figure. He helps repair the walls of Jerusalem in the Book of Nehemiah.
It’s a Hebrew name meaning praise or thankful, or possibly something like “he will judge.”
Nearly any Biblical name is used in small numbers, and Jadon is no exception. But those numbers were really small.
Over the years, this early Jadon went mostly unnoticed.
JASON JUNIOR
The baby name Jadon – and Jaydon, Jayden, and Jaden – first appear in US popularity data during the 1970s.
That’s the peak of a similar-sounding, but completely unrelated name: Jason.
The leader of the Argonauts in Greek mythology, Jason’s name was well-known in the ancient world. It also appears in the New Testament. Unlike Jadon, it was long used in small numbers in the US.
During the 1960s, it skyrocketed in use, reaching the Top Ten by 1971, and remaining there until the 1980s. It’s a modern staple today.
Not surprisingly, other similar names followed Jason’s rise in popularity. Old Testament Jacob, with a similar sound, would also rank in the Top Ten for years, eventually reaching the #1 spot.
J names, including Justin and Jordan, joined traditional favorites like James, John, and Joseph, near the top of the charts.
Also noteworthy: Jade started to trend for girls and boys alike, though it would ultimately become far more popular for our daughters.
THE DEBUT OF JADEN and JAYDEN
Given the popularity of Jason, Jacob, and Jade, it’s not surprising that another Jay name would trend.
But it’s a little tricky, because Jayden isn’t one name.
The US Social Security Administration (SSA) counts each individual spelling as a separate name. While it makes sense on paper, it can camoflauge a quickly-rising choice.
Jayden and Jaden first appear in popularity data during the 1970s.
It wasn’t until the 1990s that the names started to appear in the US Top 1000. Both Jayden and Jaden debuted in in the year 1994.
One possible reason 1994 might’ve been the tipping point? Star Trek: The Next Generation. In a February 1994 episode, the android Data is lost on a mission, and develops amnesia. His rescuers call him Jayden.
Maybe that’s a long shot.
But it’s part of the story of Jayden’s rise.
JADEN SMITH
In 1998, actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith were incredibly successful and so, so famous.
When the couple welcomed their first child together, they name him Jaden – inspired by mom’s name, Jada.
Two years later, daughter Willow would be named after dad. And not long after that, Britney Spears would name her son Jayden. So did more celebrity parents.
The baby name Jaden immediately leapt in US popularity data.
In 1997, the name ranked #456. As of 1999, it stood at #202.
It quickly became part of an even bigger phenomenon.
Another factor: Jaden Smith would become an actor, starring in major films like 2010’s installment of Karate Kid.
AIDEN, JAIDEN, CADEN, HAYDEN, AND MORE
During the 1990s, Irish names Aidan and Aiden caught on in a big way.
As of the year 2005:
- Aidan and Aiden ranked in the US Top 100, and Aydan, Ayden, and Aydin all charted higher up
- Brayden was a Top 100 favorite, with Braeden, Braden, Bradyn, Braydon, and Brayden also ranked in the Top 1000
- The Top 100 also included Caden and Kaden, with Cayden, Kadin, Kadyn, Kaiden, and Kayden farther up on the list
- Hayden ranked in the Top 100, with Haden also in use
- Top 100 Jayden and Jaden were followed by Jadon, Jadyn, Jaeden, Jaiden, Jaidyn, Jaydin, and Jaydon
More rhymes-with-aiden names, like Zayden and Raiden, would follow in future years, as well as even more spelling variations, like Jaydan.
It was a surge of similar-sounding names, and that’s without considering 2000’s favorites with similar sounds, like Mason, Cade, or Jaylon.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME JAYDEN?
Jayden quickly became one of the boys’ names defining the era.
In 1994, the baby name Jayden debuted in the US Top 1000 at #850.
Lots of rhyming names were spiking during the late 1990s, but none as fast as Jayden.
By 2003, Jayden entered the US Top 100.
It hit #8 in 2009, and peaked at #4 in 2010 and 2011.
As of 2023, Jayden ranks a respectable #49. It’s still considered a crrent, stylish name by many.
In the UK and other English-speaking countries, Jayden never reached such great heights. But from Canada to New Zealand and beyond, the name trended. Even in places with different languages, like Puerto Rico and Quebec, as well as France and the Netherlands, Jayden charted.
UNISEX NAME
While all of the spellings make it tough to pin down, there’s no question that Jayden has been viewed as unisex.
From 1998 to 2018, Jayden charted in the girls’ Top 1000, too, making the name even more popular than it appears.
FADING TREND OR NEW TRADITIONAL?
Not so long ago, Jayden felt like a unique name – a successor to generations of Jasons and Jameses that was just different enough.
Today it’s fading. Parents’ preferences change quickly. Now you might hear “nothing that rhymes with Aiden” as a rule for naming a boy. And fewer newborns that ever are receiving such names.
But something tells me that Jayden is likely to survive. Along Aiden and a few others, it feels more like a new traditional. With a nod to more enduring names, Jayden feels substantial. It’s in the Bible, after all.
The baby name Jayden fits with more traditional, popular names like Alexander and Matthew, as well as trendier names, like Justin or Tristan.
There’s enough history behind Jayden to keep it in use. And a generation of men with the name may very well hand it down to their sons, putting Jayden in the same new traditional category as Ryan and Landon.
What do you think of the baby name Jayden?
First published on July 24, 2012, this post was revised on February 20, 2025.
I dislike all of the -ayden, -aiden, -aidan, -aden, etc. names equally. Fine for other people, but I would never use them.
Jadon in the Bible is said yah-DON, so I think anyone claiming a Biblical heritage for their little Jayden is slightly delusional.
I always wonder why people seem to reserve all their hatred of the -ayden names for Jayden; I can’t really see what’s wrong with it compared it to the other names. I’ve seen quite a few Zaydens and Draydens, and yet still Jayden is the bad guy of the bunch.
I quite like Jayden, but only this spelling, not a huge fan of Jaden (for some reason is seems a tad more feminine). I also like Hayden and Kayden, but never warmed up to Brayden or Aiden (dislike both actually), so I’m weird like that.
Also I don’t consider them trashy at all, because I’ve met some lovely kids with those names. I’m sure there are thousands of trashy Roberts’ and John’s around, but no one talks about those…
Nice point, SkyeRhyly!
The only Jayden I know is my brother’s ex-girlfriend’s 3 y.o. kid (not my brother’s son!) so from that alone Jayden feels a bit ‘downmarket’ to me. I have to agree with a lot of others though, it’s not the single name Jayden that bugs me but rather all the spawn. I know, all under the age of 5: Ayden, Aden, Aidan, 3 Aidens, Brayden, Baden, and Kayden. And I don’t even know that many kids!
When Brittany Spears had her second child my history prof (he of the dry and rather awkward sense of humour) announced the fact at the beginning of our class. I don’t remember if he knew Jayden James’ name or not though. However, after I found out Brittany Spears Jr. Jr.’s name it seemed like there were Jaydens everywhere. At one point my sister was even providing childcare for two Jaydens: an autistic boy at school and a vivacious little girl on the weekends.
Back in 2001 I remember chatting with a woman who said that when she and her husband named their son Jaden they thought they were being original. Now there were little Jadens everywhere. In fact, there’s even a [very young] adult named Jaden in the NHL (Jaden Schwarz).
I think I can understand the appeal of the sound, but I do get tired of the rhyming names and names that don’t mean anything. I have some friends — a truly lovely couple — who named their son C@yden. I wasn’t exactly thrilled when I found out, but he’s a sweet little boy, so I’m learning to overlook my silly prejudice.
I know a very lovely 7 year old Jayden at church, which makes me not hate the name. The family also have a 3 year old girl who would have been named Emmett if she’d been a boy.
The fact that there are several different spellings gives the name minus-points for me, just because I have to double check that I have the right spelling.
I’ve watched all of Star Trek TNG, but I don’t remember that episode. Very interesting though.
I also do like that the Jadon spelling goes back to Old Testament times.
I have a little Jadyn in my life and I’m afraid she knows it’s a bit unfortunate. She often remarks how she prefers her middle name or would rather be a Lily (and she’s only six). Methinks I have a budding namenerd; her baby dolls are very well named–I especially like her pick of Rosabelle.
I think I love this little Jadyn … wishing for a different name at 6!
My sister wished for a different name at age 4. She wanted to be Crystal Rosabel. But she’s gotten over it.
To me, the -aden phenomenon is much more obnoxious than any single name alone, even Jayden, which I actually don’t mind too much. But given the mind-numbing frequency of that “ay,” sound, you’d think today’s parents are a generation of Fonzies.
I agree – it bugs me that so many rhyming names are so popular.