Variant of Aidan, from Irish Aodhán, meaning "little fire."
Eidan is a variant spelling of Aidan, a name with ancient Celtic fire at its heart. It derives from the Old Irish Aodhán, a diminutive of Aodh — the name of the pre-Christian Celtic deity of the sun and fire. Aodh was among the most important figures in the Irish pantheon, and the name passed into human use as a marker of brightness, warmth, and divine favor.
The diminutive form, meaning roughly "little fire" or "fiery one," was enormously popular in early medieval Ireland and Scotland. The name's most celebrated historical bearer is Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne, a seventh-century Irish monk who carried Christianity from the island monastery of Iona to the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria. Described by the Venerable Bede as a man of extraordinary gentleness and generosity, Saint Aidan founded the monastery at Lindisfarne — the "Holy Island" — which became one of the great centers of early medieval Christian scholarship.
The spelling Eidan, with its initial "E," represents a modern phonetic reinterpretation that softens the name slightly while preserving its sound and spirit. It has grown in appeal alongside the broader revival of Celtic names, chosen by parents who want something that feels both ancient and fresh.