Arden is a unisex given name of Latin origin, derived from the word "arden," which means "burning" or "ardent." It is often associated with the concept of passion and intensity, reflecting the fiery nature of its meaning.
The name Arden has been used throughout history, but it gained significant popularity in the United States during the 20th century. In the United States alone, there have been over 17,000 people with the first name Arden since 1880. However, its usage peaked between the 1950s and 1960s.
Arden has also been used as a surname throughout history. It is derived from Old English words "eard" meaning "hard" or "strong," and "en" meaning "estate." This suggests that Arden could have originally referred to someone who lived on an estate or had a strong character.
In literature, the name Arden appears in William Shakespeare's play "As You Like It," where it is used as the surname of one of the main characters. The use of this name by Shakespeare may have contributed to its popularity in later years.
Today, Arden continues to be used as both a given name and a surname around the world. Its fiery meaning makes it an appealing choice for parents looking for a unique and meaningful name for their child.
The name Arden has had a varied history of popularity over the years in the United States, with a significant increase in recent times.
From 1881 to 1964, there were only sporadic instances of babies being named Arden. During this period, the highest number of births recorded was six, which occurred in multiple years between 1887 and 1907. After 1964, the popularity of the name started to rise slowly but steadily.
The turning point seems to be around the late 1990s when there were consistently more than ten births per year. In fact, since 2000, the number of babies named Arden has been increasing each year.
From 2003 onwards, we see a steady growth in popularity, with more than 50 births every year. The most significant spike occurred between 2020 and 2023, where there was an increase from 168 to 213 births in just three years.
As of 2022, the total number of babies named Arden in the United States stands at 8097. This data reflects a positive trend towards this name over time and suggests that Arden is now quite popular among parents choosing names for their newborns.