Aedan is an Irish given name of unknown meaning, though it is believed to have been derived from a personal name that was used by an early Irish king. The name first appears in the 10th century, recorded as Aedán in the Annals of Ulster, where it was borne by several important figures, including a high-king of Ireland. In modern times, Aedan has become increasingly popular as a boy's name, particularly in English-speaking countries.
The name Aedan saw a significant increase in popularity between 1988 and 2006, with a steady rise from just 5 births per year in the late 1980s to a peak of 278 births in 2006. However, since then, its popularity has declined significantly, with only 34 births recorded in 2023. Overall, there have been a total of 3778 births named Aedan between 1988 and 2023.