Laiken is a modern American spelling of Laken, a name taken from the English word "lake" with the ending -en, which places it among nature names like River and Brooke; some trace it instead to the English surname Lakin, a medieval pet form of Lawrence. In the United States it is used mostly for girls. Laiken stood at number 3244 in 2000, reached its best rank of number 2144 in 2020 and is number 2502 among girls' names in 2025.