Name Help is a series at Appellation Mountain. Every week, we discuss reader’s name questions, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays. We’re relying on thoughtful comments from the community to help expectant parents narrow down their name decisions. Thank you in advance for sharing your insight! To have your question considered, email appmtn (at) gmail. Looking for your own private #namehelp post? Order one here.
THEY’VE FOUND THEIR FAVORITE
Rae writes:
My partner and I are expecting a miracle baby this summer. She will probably be our one and only, so getting her name right means a lot to us.
We both love the name Eden. She will have both of our last names, so we don’t think we’re going to do a middle. It will either be R!ver@ Ph!l!ps or Ph!l!ps R!ver@.
To us, Eden means a fresh start. We like that it can be unisex, and we love the sound of Edie. And we like the meaning delight or paradise.
When we mention it to others, though, they have expressed surprise because it seems like a very religious name. We are not religious at all, and have avoided names like Bodhi that seem spiritual.
Two questions: first, is Eden religious? We don’t think so, but many people we know seem to have that impression. Second, are there other names like Eden that we could consider?
Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.
USE THE NAME YOU LOVE
Abby replies:
Congratulations on your new baby!
There’s always this moment when we speak our favorite name and the world reacts.
And the world is often judgy.
I think the right reaction is a mix: 95% carry on without overthinking the world’s opinion. It’s your child, your family, your life and odds are that you’ve chosen well. But it’s also okay to give 5% to pause and reflect.
Because sometimes a name is tough to spell or does sound awkward with our surname or might suggest some cultural reference that we weren’t thinking of.
Let’s work through the 5% pause and reflect together.
On some level, Eden is religious. Of course! It’s the Garden of Eden in the Book of Genesis, the place where life begins. It’s probably the first association for most people, a lush garden at the beginning of time.
And yet, I don’t hear it that way. My guess is that Eden won’t seem like an especially religious choice, either. Why?
- Eden ranks in the US Top 100 for girls (and Top 500 for boys). The more familiar a name, the more broad its appeal, and the less we question it. Noah, Benjamin, Luke … we don’t assume parents choose them for their Old Testament roots. No one assumes Grace is a Christian reference, or Hannah or Leah, either.
- The name does have other possible roots, including the Old English given name Eadhun, which led to the surname Eden, as well as a river in England, again, with a separate origin. It’s not anyone’s first thought, but that fact might help you feel better about the choice.
- Eden fits right in. We’ve been naming our daughters Lauren and Megan and Kristen for generations. A two-syllable, ends-with-N girl’s name with a feminine short form, like Kristy or Meg, is absolutely standard.
All together, I think it’s acceptable to acknowledge that other people might choose Eden because the name appears in the Old Testament. (I can think of one family that did exactly this, though their Eden was born before the name made the Top 100.) But most families choose Eden for a mix of sound and style.
Eden feels strong and distinctive. It’s feminine but not frilly, and modern but not invented. It’s a name that deserves its place in the American mainstream right now.
But just in case you’re not convinced, let’s if anything appeals more than Eden.
ALTERNATIVES TO EDEN
CHLOE
The name Chloe does appear in the New Testament, which is part of why it has such a long history of use. But it’s not nearly as identifiable with the Bible as Eden, so it might be a good substitute.
EMBER
A rising nature name with a similar vibe to Eden. Shorten it to Emmy, and you almost have the appeal of Eden/Edie.
HADLEY
A surname name with an intriguing literary tie, thanks to the first Mrs. Ernest Hemingway, Hadley Richardson, the subject of bestselling novel The Paris Wife.
INDIE/INDIGO
A colorful name with an independent spirit. Indie is similar to Edie in many ways, and Indigo is a modern, vibrant choice.
MAREN
Likely related to Mary, Marie, or possibly Margaret, Maren is a tailored possibility that hasn’t quite caught on.
ROWAN
A unisex favorite, more popular for boys, but used in solid numbers for girls, Rowan means red.
SAGE
Another colorful name, though we tend to associate Sage most strongly with wisdom.
VIVIAN
Possibly the most traditional choice on this list, but with a spirited sound and fun short form Vivi.
Overall, I don’t think anything tops Eden. But I do think Ember and Indie/Indigo share plenty of good qualities with Eden. I love the sound of Sage, too.
I would definitely go with Eden! When I was a teacher I taught an Eden, Graces, Nevaehs, and even a Vesper from families that weren’t religious.
I think Eden is very usable whether it’s meant to be a religious reference or not.
And Edie is a very cute nickname!
Other names like Eden:
Haven
Lark
Wren
Mavis
Vesper
Sage
Flora
Tamsin
The first time I heard Eden used as a name it was on the soap opera Santa Barbara and I thought it was stunning
As someone with kids in school, I donโt think anyone will think twice about the name Eden other than it is strong and beautiful. If you live it, use it!
It has multiple origins. Per Wikipedia, Eden (Hebrew: ืขึตืึถืโ), as a given name is most often given in reference to the Biblical Garden of Eden, meaning delight; It is given to boys and girls. The first recorded use is from ancient Israel in the book of Genesis. As a boy’s name, it might be a variant of the name Aidan or be derived from the surname Eden, which was derived from the Old English word elements ฤad, meaning wealth, and hรบn, meaning bear cub. The older form of the name was Edon or Edun. As an English girl’s name, it also originated as a diminutive form of the name Edith that was in use in Yorkshire in the 1400s.
I think you should use Eden! It’s a beautiful name and clearly has an important meaning for you and your spouse.
If I met a little Eden, I’d probably think there was a 50-50 chance their parents chose it for its religious connotations. As Abby said, the name is growing in popularity, so I imagine that association will lessen over time.
Just for the sake of brainstorming, these names could also reflect your sense of happiness and peace at finally having this miracle baby:
Alair
Alma
Haven
Joy
Revel
Shiloh
Vida
Vita
Zoe
But I think Eden is the name to beat! Hope you’ll write back with an update once your daughter is here.