Alden comes from an English surname derived from personal given name Ealdwine meaning “old friend” made up from Old English eald (old) via Proto-Germanic *aldaz (old, grown up) derived from a PIE root word; and wine (friend, lord, protector) which also derives from a PIE root word. Alden could also be a variant form of Aldan or Haldan, a Swedish form of Halfdan, the Norwegian and Danish form of Old Norse Hálfdan meaning “half Dane” likely originating as a nickname for someone who was half-Danish.
Origin: Proto-Indo-European
Variants:
- Aldan (English, Scottish)
- Aldwyn (English)
- Aldwin (English)
- Aldwine (Old English)
- Alvin (English)
- Elvin (English)
- Hálfdan (Ancient Scandinavian, Icelandic)
- Halfdan (Norwegian, Danish)
- Halvdan (Norwegian)
- Halfdanr (Old Norse)
- Haldane (English, Scottish)
- Healfdene (Old English)
- Haldanus (Latin)
