Holden
Holden is a boys' name of English origin meaning “hollow valley.” It ranked #302 in the United States in 2025. Holden is an English place name meaning 'hollow valley' or 'deep valley.
how do you pronounce Holden?
HOHL-den
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Holden mean?
The name Holden means “hollow valley.” It comes from the English language tradition.
Holden is an English place name meaning 'hollow valley' or 'deep valley.' The name is permanently linked to Holden Caulfield, the restless teenage protagonist of J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. This literary association gives the name an introspective, rebellious quality that appeals to bookish parents.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #302 |
| 2023 | #296 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
who are famous people named Holden?
- Holden Caulfield (protagonist of The Catcher in the Rye)
- William Holden (American actor)
what names are similar to Holden?
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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