Kaladin is a literary name invented by the fantasy author Brandon Sanderson for the hero of The Stormlight Archive, beginning with The Way of Kings in 2010; it has no traditional meaning and is sometimes read by fans as containing "paladin", a "knightly champion". American parents who love the series have put it on the map: Kaladin rose from number 5400 in 2015 to number 1408 in 2024 and ranks number 1489 in 2025.