Cadan is a unique and distinctive given name of Irish origin, derived from the ancient Irish name 'Cathán'. It is composed of two elements: 'catha', meaning 'battle', and '-án', a diminutive suffix. Therefore, Cadan translates to 'little battle'. This name was borne by several early Irish saints and has been used historically in Ireland, but it remains relatively uncommon today.
The name Cadan experienced significant growth in popularity between the years 2004 to 2007, with a steady increase from 23 births in 2004 to a peak of 31 births in 2007. However, it has since seen fluctuations and a general decline, with only 6 births recorded in both 2020 and 2021. In total, there have been 322 babies named Cadan from 1997 to 2021.