Declining since 2012, #7,194 for boys today.
Popularity of Aiken since 1920
Babies named Aiken per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 11 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 81 |
| 2010s | 191 |
| 2020s | 71 |
Meaning & origin
Aiken is a rare and unconventional given name with roots in an English surname. First recorded as a given name in 1920, it remained obscure for decades but saw a modest uptick in the 2010s, reaching its peak rank in 2012. Since then, its usage has been steadily declining. With only about 1 in every 155,000 baby boys receiving this name in 2025, Aiken remains an uncommon choice for parents seeking a distinctive name with a touch of surname style.
Aiken is a modern given name derived from the English surname Aiken. The surname itself has multiple possible origins: it may be a variant of Aitken, a Scottish diminutive of Adam; or it could be derived from the Old English 'āc' meaning 'oak', referring to someone who lived near a prominent oak tree. As a given name, Aiken has been in sporadic use since the early 20th century, primarily in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Aitken
Sibling names for Aiken
Names that share Aiken's style, for a brother or sister.
