Aidan Jacob

Aidan on a mountain, July 2024.

"Little Fire"

by Aidan Jacob

Have you ever felt like some things just fit? Like fireworks in July or hot cocoa after a long ski day. That is how I have always felt with my name. It was my dad’s choice, which makes sense as I learned it originates very close to where my dad was born and raised in the United Kingdom. He told me that it was a popular name during that time (2005) and that it “caught his eye”. The popularity part of my dad’s statement is matched with statistics. According to the Name Database, the name Aidan peaked in popularity ranking 43rd among all names in the US the year I was born, 2005. While it has since declined in popularity, that only makes me love it more and gives it a factor of uniqueness. This was all before learning the meaning behind it.

Aidan is a gender-neutral name of Celtic origin that is sure to ignite a baby's spirit. Coming from the Irish name Aodhán and Welsh name Aeddan, this name translates to “born of fire” or “little fire” (“Aidan”). Growing up, I was always shorter than all the other kids I was friends with. This became somewhat of an insecurity for me; making me less than those around me. This continued into middle school, where I eventually learned the meaning behind my name, “little fire”. This new information gave me a sense of comfort. While I am shorter than most, I feel I have the energy and passion to make up for it in everything I do. This gave me confidence in all aspects of my life: in school, sports, and my social situations. I am thankful for my name, as it has given me a sense of identity and belonging. The name has always felt like mine; I owned it.

Even though it felt like my name belonged to me, there has always been an implicit feeling for finding others who share it. This led me to find out that my name can be spelled in many different ways. My name is much more popular when it is spelled “Aiden”, ranking consistently in the top 50 since 2005 (ssa.gov). While I have met many other Aidens during my lifetime, I have met many fewer Aidans, allowing the name to stick out to me even more. While I may be a bit biased, I think the spelling of my name is also much more aesthetically pleasing and overall a superior way to spell the name.

All in all, I favor every aspect of my name, from the meaning behind it to the way that it is spelled. I am grateful to have learned about its meaning from a young age, as I believe it has played a part in who I have become today. It leads me to be the energetic and outgoing person that “little fire” is supposed to be. I couldn’t imagine having a different name, and I am thankful it caught my dad’s eye.

Works Cited

“Aidan.” The Bump, thebump.com/b/aidan-baby-name. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.

“Popularity of name Aidan.” U.S. Social Security Administration Baby Name Database, U.S. Social Security Administration, n.d., ssa.gov/oact/babynames., Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.

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