Hey friend, is Aiden a girl‘s name now too?

If you’re researching baby names like I do, you may be wondering – can you use Aiden for a girl? It‘s a question I‘ve been investigating lately, and the answer is yes!

Traditionally an Irish masculine name, Aiden is now given to baby girls too, especially with creative spellings like Ayden or Aidan. As a name nerd and data geek, I decided to dive deeper into the stats and trends around this fiery name. Here’s what I discovered…

A Bit of History

Let’s rewind a bit first. The name Aiden comes from old Irish and Scottish Gaelic roots. In Celtic mythology, Aodh was the god of the sun and fire. The original form of the name Aiden was the Irish Aodhán, a diminutive meaning "little Aodh".

Aidan first emerged as a masculine name in Ireland and Scotland. By the 20th century it had spread in popularity to England and Wales. The most famous early bearer was Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne, a 7th century monk credited with reintroducing Christianity to Northumbria.

Up until the 1990s, Aiden was almost always given to baby boys. According to records from the Social Security Administration, Aiden didn’t even crack the top 1,000 girl names in the United States until 1993. But the story has changed a lot since then!

The Meteoritic Rise of Aiden for Girls

In the last couple decades, Aiden has totally shot up in popularity for girls thanks to alternate spellings like Aidan and Ayden.

Check out this growth in the girl name rankings between 2000 and 2020:

• Aiden – from #856 to #286
• Ayden – from #1676 to #498
• Aidan – from #1683 to #567

That’s more than a 300 spot jump for each spelling! Here are some more telling stats about Aiden’s groundbreaking rise among girl names:

• There were over 5,000 baby girls named Aiden, Ayden or Aidan in the US in 2020.
• Alternate spellings of Aiden climbed over 1,000 spots in the girl name rankings since 2000
• In 2020, the spellings ranked as follows for girls: Aiden (#286), Ayden (#498), Aidan (#567)
• Ayden rose the fastest, up 382 spots for girls from 2000 to 2020

Based on this rapid growth, I think it’s clear Aiden has transitioned from solely a masculine name to a stylish unisex pick. While more boys are still named Aiden, it has definitively crossed over as an option for girls in recent years.

Current Popularity Stats: Aiden for Boys vs. Girls

Let‘s break down the numbers to see how common Aiden is for boys and girls today:

The stats show Aiden ranking about 10-20x higher for boys but solidly within the top 300-500 girl names as well in English-speaking countries.

The alternate Ayden spelling seems to be leading the girl name trend, coming closest to an even split between the genders.

While still more heavily boys, the numbers prove Aiden is now given to a substantial number of baby girls every year and climbing fast.

The Meaning Behind Aiden‘s Appeal

So what explains Aiden’s rise for girls? Well, the name’s meaning has a fiery, adventuresome vibe that many parents now find fitting for their daughters too.

The core Gaelic meaning of Aiden is “little fire” or “fiery one”, originating from Aodh, the Celtic sun god. This conveys:

• Passion
• Vibrance
• Energy
• Bravery
• Independence

Although tied to a masculine deity, many modern parents feel these fiery traits suit their baby girls too!

Aiden also sounds similar to trendy girl names like Hayden. This branches it away from the traditional Celtic roots.

Overall, parents seem increasingly drawn to untraditional, unisex names with uplifting meanings. Aiden’s fiery spirit makes it right on trend!

Cute Spelling Styles for Girls

One way parents have adapted Aiden for girls is by getting creative with the spelling! Here are some of the top alternate spellings trending for girls:

• Ayden – The most popular feminine spelling in the US.
• Aidan – Closer to the traditional Irish spelling.
• Aadyn – The double "A" adds a feminine flair.
• Aydin – Replaces the "E" with an "I".
• Aydyn – Puts a fun "Y" twist on it.

Aidyn, Adyn, Aedyn, and others are possibilities too. Varying the spelling feminizes Aiden while keeping its lively meaning.

Based on my research, Ayden seems to be the favorite girl spelling in English-speaking countries. It blends the traditional Irish Aidan with a feminine “Y” ending.

Aidan is also climbing fast for girls in the US and UK, bringing the conventional spelling over to the feminine side.

Sounds Great in First or Middle Spot

Given its unisex style, Aiden works seamlessly as a first name for girls too. Some inspiring combos:

• Aiden Rose
• Ayden Grace
• Aidan Louise
• Aiden Kate
• Ayden Mae
• Aidan Nicole

Using an alternate spelling avoids direct confusion with the boy name Aiden. But the traditional spelling can be chic for a girl too when paired with a feminine middle like Mae or Rose.

For sisters, I love matching names like:

• Aiden & Hayden
• Ayden & Kayden
• Aidan & Jaiden

Aiden has the same upbeat vibe as floral names like Daisy, Poppy, Juniper or Rose too.

Overall, leading with Aiden, Ayden or Aidan makes a modern, spunky first name for a baby girl.

Where Aiden is Trending for Girls

Based on my data diving, here is how the popularity of Aiden as a girl name varies in different English-speaking countries:

• Most popular in US and Canada
• Gaining traction in the UK and Australia
• Not yet widespread in the southern US
• Almost non-existent in non-English speaking countries

The name seems to have originated as a girl name in North America before jumping over to Australia and the UK more recently.

Given its Gaelic roots, Aiden is also less familiar for girls in Ireland and Scotland. But as the alternate spellings spread globally, so does Aiden’s adoption for daughters.

The spelling Ayden seems to lead the way in most English-speaking regions. I expect its girl popularity to keep rising around the world.

Celebs Who Have Boosted Aiden for Girls

While more male celebrities have the name, a few famous women with Aiden are helping drive its popularity for girls:

• Aidan Quinn – Irish-American actress known for works like Practical Magic
• Ayden Bek – American child actress in projects like Grey‘s Anatomy
• Aidan Gallagher – Teen actress, plays Nickelodeon‘s Nicky Harper

The media exposure from women like Quinn and Gallagher gives parents confidence in using Aiden for daughters.

Seeing a name crossover from male to female celebrities helps accelerate the unisex trend. Based on Aidan Quinn and Ayden Bek, I expect Aiden to keep climbing for girls.

Boyish Alternatives to Aiden

If you prefer to view Aiden strictly as a masculine name, no worries! Here are some similar boyish names with the same fun vibe:

• Hayden
• Braden
• Jaden
• Kaden
• Brayden
• Aidric
• Aydin

Most of these overlap as unisex names now too. But they still skew over 75% male usage, keeping a predominantly boyish edge.

Hayden may be the next to crossover as Aiden has, but for now these alternatives have hung on to their masculine tradition.

Girl Names With Similar Style

If you love the sound of Aiden but want something more feminine, here are some related girl names with the same bold, lively vibes:

• Ada
• Kaia
• Etta
• Isla
• Remi
• Liv
• Ember
• Zelda

Short zippy names like Ember, Etta, and Kaia have a comparably bold kick. Names like Isla and Zelda have the same ends-in-a suffix as Aiden too.

Most of these have longstanding feminine history and usage, so they offer a clearly girl name alternative to the unisex Aiden.

The Verdict: Aiden is Now Trending for Girls!

Based on the data and trends I’ve researched, Aiden has definitely crossed over as an option for girls, especially with alternate spellings like Ayden and Aidan.

While traditionally masculine, the numbers show Aiden gaining substantial steam for daughters in recent decades. The name’s fiery spirit combined with creative spelling variants make it right on trend for baby girls today.

Of course, no name has to be limited by gender norms. If you love the sound of Aiden, use it boldly and proudly for your child no matter their sex.

But the stats are clear – yes, Aiden has become a stylish name choice for girls as well as boys. The next generation of Aidens will include plenty of her/his combinations!

Let me know if you have any other baby name questions! I love geeking out over this stuff. Whether you prefer Aiden as strictly masculine or now embrace it for girls too, I hope these name insights from your data pal Terry were helpful!