Aiken is a name of English origin that has been used for both boys and girls in recent years. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "aecen", which means "only" or "sole". However, there are other theories about its origins as well.
Some people believe that Aiken may be a variant spelling of the Irish name Aidan, which comes from the old Irish name Áedán. This name is believed to have originated from the Gaelic word "áed", meaning "fire" or "noble". Another theory suggests that Aiken may be derived from the Scottish surname Aikenhead, which is thought to have come from the Scottish word "aig" meaning "edge".
Historically, the name Aiken has been used in Scotland for centuries. It was originally a surname, but it began to be used as a given name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, Aiken is still more commonly used as a boy's name, although it can also be found among girls.
Overall, while there are several theories about its origins, the name Aiken is generally believed to have English roots and to mean "only" or "sole". It is a unique and distinctive name that has been used for centuries in Scotland and beyond.
The name Aiken has seen a varied trend in popularity over the past century in the United States. With only five births recorded in 1920 and six in 1921, it was not a common name at that time.
However, fast forward to the late 1990s and early 2000s, there was a noticeable increase in the number of babies named Aiken. In 1999, five babies were named Aiken, but this number doubled to ten births from 2006 to 2008.
The peak popularity for the name Aiken occurred between 2011 and 2014 with a total of 95 births recorded during these four years. The highest year was 2012, with 26 babies named Aiken.
Despite this spike in popularity, the number of babies named Aiken has since decreased. In 2022 and 2023, only ten babies were named Aiken each year.
Overall, from 1920 to 2023, there have been a total of 341 births with the name Aiken recorded in the United States. While it has not maintained consistent high popularity, the name Aiken has seen periods of increased usage and remains present among baby names today.