Emma Girl
EH-muh
“whole, universal” · Germanic
#3
Arden
UnisexEnglish· “from the Forest of Arden”
- Meaning
- from the Forest of Arden
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- AR-den
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #975
- US babies 2025
- 261
- Best rank
- #738 (1930)
- Peak year
- 2015
Meaning and origin of Arden
Arden is an English name that is usually said to mean “from the Forest of Arden”.
Arden comes from an English surname taken from the Forest of Arden in Warwickshire, whose name is believed to come from a Celtic element meaning "high." Shakespeare set much of As You Like It in the Forest of Arden, and his mother, Mary Arden, came from a family of that name. Arden is also the name of a region of forests and hills in Belgium and France, the Ardennes. As a given name Arden is used for both boys and girls, with a soft, literary and woodland feel.
Popularity over time
Arden first appears in US Social Security records in 1914. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 8 different years, starting in 1929. Its best national rank was #738 in 1930, and the most babies received it in 2015, when 300 were named Arden. In 2025, 261 babies were named Arden, and it ranked #975 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #2,188 in 1950, #6,346 in 1980, #1,676 in 2000, #1,241 in 2010, and #975 in 2025. Of the 7,518 US girls named Arden since records began, 32% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 1,535 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Kamdyn, Camdyn, Charleston, Chevy, and Kaidyn.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Arden ranked highest in Connecticut, Colorado, and Oregon.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | #353 | 8 |
| Colorado | #432 | 13 |
| Oregon | #436 | 8 |
| Mississippi | #529 | 5 |
| Arkansas | #572 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Arden is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 66% of US babies named Arden were girls and 34% were boys.
Arden is usually pronounced AR-den, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with A and ends in “-en”.
Middle names for Arden
A few middle names that flow with Arden: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Arden
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Lists that include Arden
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Arden mean?
Arden is an English name that is usually said to mean “from the Forest of Arden”.
What is the origin of the name Arden?
Arden has English roots. Arden comes from an English surname taken from the Forest of Arden in Warwickshire, whose name is believed to come from a Celtic element meaning "high." Shakespeare set much of As You Like It in the Forest of Arden, and his mother, Mary Arden, came from a family of that name.
Is Arden a popular name?
Yes. Arden ranked #975 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Arden a boy or girl name?
Arden is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 66% of US babies named Arden were girls and 34% were boys.
How do you pronounce Arden?
Arden is usually pronounced AR-den. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings