Holden

The name Holden is a boy's name of English origin meaning "hollow valley". Holden is a classic case of a name that jumped out of a book and onto birth certificates--though it took quite a while. Parents who loved J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye are flocking to the name of its hero, Holden Caulfield -- not coincidentally in tune with the Hudson-Hayden-Colton field of names. (Trivia note: Salinger supposedly came up with the name while looking at a movie poster promoting a film starring William Holden and Joan Caulfield, though other sources say he was named after Salinger's friend Holden Bowler.) Another impetus was provided by a soap opera character introduced in 1985. Among the celebs who have chosen Holden are Brendan Fraser and Mira Sorvino. In Australia, only a car-lover would choose this name, which is inextricably linked with the car-brand.