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Aydan

Boy name · 18 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Aydan: 18 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 4 births in 2018.

Aydan is predominantly a modern spelling variant of the classic Irish name Aidan, which derives from the Old Irish Aodhán, a diminutive of Aodh meaning “fire.” The name is also used in Turkish, where it can mean “from the moon” or “intelligent.” Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne, a 7th-century Irish missionary who brought Christianity to Northumbria, is one of its most famous early bearers. In contemporary culture, Irish actor Aidan Turner, known for *Poldark* and *The Hobbit*, has kept the name in the spotlight. Several churches and schools across Scotland and England are dedicated to Saint Aidan, most notably St Aidan’s Cathedral in Enniscorthy. The spelling Aydan emerged in the late 20th century as part of a wider trend for creative variations of Aidan, alongside Aiden and Ayden, and has steadily gained popularity among Scottish parents seeking a fresh but rooted choice.