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Home › Baby Names Directory › Arden

Arden

♀ Girl

Pronounced AR-den /ˈɑːr.dən/High

Meaning: From a Celtic place name meaning high or great, associated with the Forest of Arden in Warwickshire, England; Shakespeare used Arden as the enchanted forest in As You Like It, and it was his mother Mary Arden's surnameHigh

In 30 seconds: Arden is a literary English name meaning high or great forest, immortalized by Shakespeare in As You Like It. Unisex but increasingly feminine, it has a magical, woodland quality and rising appeal for parents who love nature and literature.
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Origin HighCeltic, English
MeaningFrom a Celtic place name meaning high or great, associated with the Forest of Arden in Warwickshire, England; Shakespeare used Arden as the enchanted forest in As You Like It, and it was his mother Mary Arden's surname
U.S. rank (2025)#975 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births261 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2015
Total births (all-time)≈ 7,514

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201519142025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Arden was the surname of Shakespeare's mother Mary Arden, connecting the name to the playwright's own family. The Forest of Arden in As You Like It became a symbol of pastoral freedom and transformation in English literature.

As a given name, Arden has been used for both boys and girls but has become primarily feminine in recent American usage. Its literary Shakespearean connection, nature feel, and unisex confidence make it a popular choice for parents seeking distinctive names.

Did you know? Shakespeare's Forest of Arden in As You Like It is named after the real Forest of Arden in Warwickshire, and also after his mother Mary Arden's family. The forest in the play is a place of magic, transformation, and self-discovery.
Overall data confidence 85%
Behind the Name — Arden — Celtic and Shakespearean etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ArdanArdyn

Nicknames

ArdiDenny

Famous Bearers

  • ★Arden Cho (1985-)
    American actress and singer known for Teen Wolf and Partner Track
  • ★Arden Myrin (1973-)
    American comedian and actress

If you like Arden…

Eden— shares the lush, nature-paradise name meaning and two-syllable elegance
Hayden— same two-syllable nature-name surname-style with a soft modern feel
Wren— shares the woodland nature-name quality and the unisex modern appeal
Auden— shares the -en ending
Laken— the same nature feel

Explore names like Arden

By themeunisextwo-syllablenaturecelticshakespearean
By meaningEarth / Nature

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Arden mean?

Arden means high or great forest from a Celtic place name, associated with the Forest of Arden in Warwickshire and Shakespeare's As You Like It.

How do you pronounce Arden?

It is said AR-den, with two syllables and stress on the first.

Is Arden a boy or girl name?

Arden is unisex but is used more frequently as a girls name in recent American usage.

Is Arden a Shakespearean name?

Yes, the Forest of Arden in Shakespeare's As You Like It was named after the real Forest of Arden and Shakespeare's mother's family name.

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