Origin, Meaning, And History Of Holden
Holden is a popular gender-neutral name that means ‘hollow valley,’ derived from the Old English word ‘holen.’ Originally a surname in England during the Medieval Ages, Holden was given to people who lived in or near a hollow valley, or used as a nickname for someone who was ‘hollow-cheeked.’ The name has ancient roots as an estate in the parish of Haslingden, County Lancashire of Anglo-Saxon descent, which led to its spread in the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. In Ireland, the Holdens were a Welsh family who settled in County Kilkenny after the Norman Conquest in the 12th century.
A unique and interesting choice among parents, Holden often bears variations that can be alternatively spelled as Holdon, Holden, Holdan, Houldon, Houldan, Holdin, and Houldin. Some nicknames for Holden can be Hol, Den, Denny, and Holt.
The name became popular after the 1950s with J.D Salinger’s novel ‘The Catcher in the Rye,’ which hadHolden Caulfieldas its protagonist. The name saw a spike in popularity in the US after the novel’s release in 1951. The novel revolves around the story of a teenage boy named Holden and spans around two days of his life. Considered a classic in American literature, the novel deals with teenage angst, alienation, and superficiality in society.
In addition, the name appears in several other works of fiction, such asHolden Straussin the American TV drama series ‘Pretty Little Liars.’ He is an old friend of Aria and is portrayed by Shane Coffey.Holden McNeilis a recurring character in director Kevin Smith’s View Askewniverse of films, played by Ben Affleck, and appears in movies such as ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,’ ‘Jay and Silent Bob Reboot,’ and ‘Chasing Amy.’ The American crime series ‘Mindhunter’ is led by FBI agentHolden Fordas part of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit.
How To Pronounce Holden?
Famous People With The Name Holden
- Holden BowlerAmerican athlete, singer and businessman on whom the character Holden Caulfield in J.D. Salinger’s novel The Catcher in the Rye was based.
- Holden FurberAmerican historian, professor and the twenty-first president of the Association for Asian Studies.
- Holden Chester RichardsonPioneer in United States naval aviation, the US Navy’s first engineering test pilot.
- Herbert Holden ThorpAmerican chemist, professor and entrepreneur, tenth chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- William HoldenAmerican actor and winner of the Academy Award for Best Actor for the film Stalag 17
Holden On The Popularity Chart
Holden has seen a surge in popularity over the last two decades. See the graph below to understand the popularity and ranking of the name.
Popularity Over Time
霍尔顿在下半年the 1990s and peaked in 2018 with 1728 babies per million sharing the name. Have a look at the graph below.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
With its best rank coming in 1986, Holden has seen a decline in ranking with an improvement after 2008.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Holden
Looking for a name that sounds similar to Holden? Here are a few names you may consider.
Popular Sibling Names For Holden
Other Popular Names Beginning With H
Names With Similar Meaning As Holden
If the meaning of Holden appeals to you, here are some names that share similar meaning.
信息图:根据ν知道名字的个性merology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
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In Braille Alphabet
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Name Numerology For Holden
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Holden?
The name Holden means ‘hollow valley.’
2. What is the origin of the name Holden?
Holden has an Old English origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Holden?
Holden is pronounced as hol-den.
4. Is the name Holden gender-neutral or primarily used for boys?
The name Holden is a gender-neutral. It’s a nature-related name meaning ‘hollow valley’ and is not associated with a particular gender.
5. Does the name Holden have any literary or fictional references?
Holden V. Caulfield is the narrator and protagonist of J. D. Salinger’s 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye. The name Holden gained mass popularity with this character. Holden Carver is the main character of the ‘Sleeper’ series by DC Comics. He is known for possessing the quality of not feeling any pain. In the fantasy TV series Beyond, the protagonist Holden Matthews wakes up from a coma to discover he has acquired supernatural abilities.
