Eden is a unisex given name of Hebrew origin. It means "pleasure" or "delight." The name Eden is derived from the Garden of Eden, which is a biblical paradise where God placed Adam and Eve before their expulsion due to their disobedience. According to the Book of Genesis, the garden was lush and beautiful, with abundant fruit trees and a river that flowed out of it.
In the Hebrew Bible, the name Eden also appears as an adjective meaning "delight" or "pleasure," suggesting that the name is associated with joy and contentment. In some interpretations, Eden is also believed to be related to the Akkadian word edinnu, which means "plain" or "steppe."
The use of Eden as a given name has increased in popularity over time. In England and Wales, for instance, it was not among the top 1000 most popular names for boys or girls in the early 20th century but became more common later on. Between 2003 and 2013, Eden ranked consistently within the top 500 baby girl names in the United States.
Overall, Eden is a name that carries with it biblical significance and positive connotations of pleasure and delight. Its increasing popularity may be attributed to its associations with beauty and tranquility, as well as its unisex nature.
The name Eden experienced a significant rise in popularity from the late 20th century onwards. In the early years (1917-1967), there were fewer than 15 births per year, with most years being below 10. However, starting in the late 1960s and especially from the 1980s onwards, the number of annual births with the name Eden began to rise consistently. The peak was reached recently, with over 700 births each year between 2020 and 2023. Overall, there have been a total of 9746 births with the name Eden from 1917 to 2023.