US Popularity Rank: 1260

Origin: Celtic

Meaning: Great forest; High valley; Eagle valley

Arden is a gender-neutral locational name of British origin that finds its roots deep in the Forest of Arden. The home to myth, imagination, and literary inspiration, this great forest has multiple potential sources for its unusual title. The most persuasive considers Arden a combination of the British Celtic ardu, meaning "high," and denu, meaning "valley." For a more high-flying meaning, Arden can also come from the Old English word earn and denu, meaning "eagle valley. Yet Arden's most riveting claim to fame is its ties to William Shakespeare's pastoral play As You Like It, where its woodland origins form the pivotal setting. Within Shakespeare's fictitious world, Arden is the home to compelling characters, the most memorable of which being the downcast traveler Jaques who famously declares, "all the world's a stage."