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Is it something that keeps time, like a cadence? Did it originate from an old Welsh or Scottish surname? Did it spring spontaneously from the mind of a creative parent?

Unfortunately, the name Caden has a murky history, and these are all valid possibilities regarding where it came from. But we do have some neat tidbits about Caden.

Etymology
The best guess about the meaning of Caden is that it means either battle' or spirit of battle.' This will only apply if the name originated as a Welsh or Scottish surname.

If the name was created spontaneously by a parent, it is likely the masculinization of the female name Cadence. Cadence is a music term that means rhythm.

Origin & History
Here's where the guesses really get hot and heavy.

The favorite theory regarding the origin of Caden is that it is a short version of MacCaden, which means battle.' Caden may also be the short version of a similar Welsh surname: Cadden, which would be pronounced more or less: /KAY then/.

But then, the female name Cadence has been around for a while. Have you ever met someone named Rhythm? Oh.. you have?

Anyway, it is entirely possible that a creative parent opted to use Caden for their boy, rather than the female version. In any case, the name has caught on. Caden showed up on the top 1000 names used in the U.S.A. in the early 1990's. This correlates with the beginning of the trend of using Gaelic-sounding names as given names.

Popularity
Caden broke into the top 1000 list at position 870 in 1992. The next year it dropped to 973, but after that it has been rising rapidly. In 1994, it went to the low 700's, and within four years was in the top 200.

In 2006, Caden hit number 91 and it is still rising. Why the popularity of a name with such a murky past? Simple: it is unusual, simple and easily remembered, and has a Gaelic sound to it. What is more, if you look at names ending with the /n/ sound, you will see that they consistently perform well. There must be something about that nasal sound

Fascinating Facts
According to numerology, a person with the name Caden has a number of 9. Thus, Cadens will usually exhibit such characteristics as selflessness, charitableness, generosity, and creative expression. Cadens will also be focused on the family and will be sensitive enough to be a comforter. For more info on this numerology business, check out: http://www.paulsadowski.com/Nu mbers.asp

Various positive words can be made from the letters in the name Caden. How about Ace, Aced, Dean (of a college), and Den? Okay, maybe den is not empirically positive, but doesn't it make you think of fuzzy animals in their cozy home?

Namesakes
Probably the single most common namesake for Caden is the word cadence. Some folks likely have an image of some kind of rhythm show up in their head when they hear the name Caden.

You might also see a street or a business with the Caden in its name. The same goes for Cadence, although there was a movie made by the Sheen father and son in 1990 called "Cadence." It was military in theme.

Famous Persons
You're not going to find much in the way of famous people with the name Caden. In fact, if you can find one, let us know.

Name Variants
Cade. Kade.

Yep, that's about it for name variants. Well what did you expect? This name has a murky history, as we've mentioned. But the name Caden sure does seem to have a bright future, so don't worry about it.

Learn more about this author, Jared Garrett.
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