Unisex · #929 in 2026

Arden

Arden is a unisex given name and an English surname of locational origin. It is derived from three places thus called in the United Kingdom: in Yorkshire North Riding, Cheshire, or the Forest of Arden in Warwickshire. This last Arden family from Warwickshire is one of only three that can trace their ancestry back to before 1066.

Current Rank
#929
Peak Rank
#466 (2026)
Total Babies
9K
5-Yr Trend
+56%
👧 Girl peak #738 (8K total)
👦 Boy peak #466 (9K total)
👦As Boy Name
1881
First Year
2026
Last Year
2026
Peak Year
#466
Peak Rank
9K
Total Count
134
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
1914
First Year
2026
Last Year
2015
Peak Year
#738
Peak Rank
8K
Total Count
102
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Arden

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Arden is a unisex given name and an English surname of locational origin. It is derived from three places thus called in the United Kingdom: in Yorkshire North Riding, Cheshire, or the Forest of Arden in Warwickshire. This last Arden family from Warwickshire is one of only three that can trace their ancestry back to before 1066.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Arden

As a girl name

Arden first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1914, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2015, when 300 Ardens were born — ranking #914 that year. As of 2026, Arden ranks #1,039 for girls with 240 births, holding steady (-4%). In total, more than 8K Ardens have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Arden first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1881, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 248 Ardens were born — ranking #929 that year. As of 2026, Arden ranks #929 for boys with 248 births, rising sharply (+56% over the past five years). In total, more than 9K Ardens have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Notable people named Arden

A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.

  • Arden L. Bement Jr. (born 1932), American engineer and scientist
  • Arden Cho (born 1985), American actress, singer, and model
  • Arden Eddie (born 1947), Canadian baseball player, team owner, and manager
  • Arden Hayes (born 2008), American child prodigy
  • Arden Haynes , Canadian businessman
  • Arden Hilliard (1904–1976), member of the Hypocrites' Club at Oxford University
  • Arden Jones (born 2001), Californian rapper
  • Arden Key (born 1996), American football player

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Names that sound like Arden

Phonetically similar names — useful when Arden is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Arden

What does the name Arden mean?
Arden is a unisex given name and an English surname of locational origin. It is derived from three places thus called in the United Kingdom: in Yorkshire North Riding, Cheshire, or the Forest of Arden in Warwickshire. This last Arden family from Warwickshire is one of only three that can trace their ancestry back to before 1066.
How popular is Arden in 2026?
In 2026, Arden ranks #929 among boys' names in the U.S., with 248 babies given the name that year.
When was Arden most popular?
Arden reached its peak popularity in 2026, ranking #466 that year with 248 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Arden most popular?
Arden has historically been most popular in South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Arden.
Is Arden a unisex name?
Yes — Arden is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 47% of Ardens assigned female and 53% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Arden?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Arden include Oran, Audie, Yusuf. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Arden

Arden is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1881 and has accumulated 9K births in the dataset. Arden's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #466. Use the chart and map above to compare Arden's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.