Aidyn

Aidyn is yet ANOTHER Americanized respelling of the classic Irish masculine name Aidan. As with many ultra-trendy names in the United States (in this case, Aiden), American parents have a tendency to alter the spellings in an attempt to make the name more unique. Aidyn is another example of this naming style. Aidan is the traditional Irish spelling and an anglicized form of the ancient Gaelic name "Áedán" or "Aodhán." These names are a derivative of the diminutive Áed from "Aodh" meaning "fire" (as a diminutive form, Aidan means “little fire”). In Irish mythology, Áed was the god of the underworld. Aodhán/Aidan was also borne by several ancient High Kings of Ireland as well as a couple important early Irish saints. The older Gaelic versions of the name were relatively common during Antiquity and the early medieval period. Probably the most famous, the 7th century Saint Aidan of Iona, established a monastery in Northumbria which brought Christianity to the pagan Saxons. The spelling of Aidan is most popular in Ireland and Northern Ireland, but the Northern Irish still use the more ancient variation of Aodhán with some frequency. The altered spelling of Aidyn is pretty much used only in America. Other English speaking nations don’t generally mutilate the spellings of names (except occasionally Canada and Australia – but they’re usually following our lead).