Arden

At a Glance: Name: Arden – Meaning: high – Origin: Celtic (Brythonic place name) – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: AR-dun

---

Arden is a neutral name with Celtic (Brythonic) roots, drawn from a place name. You may have seen it defined online as meaning 'eagle valley' or 'valley,' but that's not accurate — the name actually traces back to the Brythonic Celtic word ardu, meaning 'high.' It's pronounced AR-dun.

Meaning & Origin of Arden

Meaning: High.

Origin: Celtic (Brythonic place name).

A common claim: Arden is often said to mean 'eagle valley' or simply 'valley'. Actually: Arden actually comes from Brythonic Celtic ardu, meaning 'high' — not 'eagle' or 'valley.'

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Arden

Phonetic: AR-dun   IPA: /ˈɑːrdən/

Popularity of Arden

Arden hit its peak popularity in 1934, ranking #466 with 146 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had fallen to #943, with 242 babies — so while the rank has dropped, the actual count has grown since its 1934 high.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1881–2024.

Make Arden Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Arden, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Adley
• Arrow
• Ash
• Bay
• Bear
• Beck

FAQ

What does the name Arden mean?

High. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Arden)

How do you pronounce Arden?

Arden is pronounced AR-dun (IPA: /ˈɑːrdən/).

Is Arden a popular name right now?

Arden peaked at #466 in 1934 and is ranked #943 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1881–2024.)

More Baby Name Inspiration

• Check any name’s popularity history
• Take the naming-style quiz
• Make art for a different name