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Home › Baby Names Directory › Arwen

Arwen

♀ Girl

Pronounced AR-wen /ˈɑːr.wɛn/Low

Meaning: Noble maiden, royal lady in Sindarin ElvishLow

In 30 seconds: Arwen is J.R.R. Tolkien's creation for the beautiful Elven princess in The Lord of the Rings, meaning noble maiden in his invented Sindarin language. One of the most beloved literary names of the 20th century.
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Origin LowLiterary, Welsh-inspired
MeaningNoble maiden, royal lady in Sindarin Elvish
U.S. rank (2025)#1384 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births158 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2023
Total births (all-time)≈ 3,296

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202319682025

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

Arwen was created by J.R.R. Tolkien for The Lord of the Rings (1954), a Sindarin Elvish name meaning noble maiden. Tolkien based Sindarin largely on Welsh phonology, giving Arwen authentic Celtic linguistic flavor.

Arwen grew as a given name particularly after the Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings films (2001-2003), when Liv Tyler's portrayal brought the character to global audiences.

Did you know? Arwen Undomiel — Undomiel meaning Evenstar — chose mortality for love of Aragorn, making her name forever associated with the greatest romantic sacrifice in fantasy literature.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name: Arwen

Variations

ArwynArwenneErwynn

Nicknames

ArWenWennie

Famous Bearers

  • ★Arwen Undomiel (fictional) (fictional)
    Half-elven princess of Rivendell and love interest of Aragorn in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings

If you like Arwen…

Eowyn— Fellow Tolkien female warrior name
Rhiannon— Welsh mythological queen name of same feel
Rowena— Celtic queen name of similar resonance
Avonlea— a fellow Literary choice
Renesmee— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Arwen

By themetwo-syllableliteraryfantasytolkien
By meaningRoyal / Noble

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does Arwen mean?

Arwen means noble maiden in J.R.R. Tolkien's invented Sindarin Elvish language, inspired by Welsh phonology.

Who is Arwen in Lord of the Rings?

Arwen Undomiel is the half-elven daughter of Elrond who chose mortality to be with Aragorn.

How do you pronounce Arwen?

Arwen is pronounced AR-wen with two syllables.

What names are similar to Arwen?

Similar names include Eowyn, Rhiannon, and Bronwen.

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