NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Arden

Grove or shady glade, a masculine given name of Celtic origin.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 94 girls.

Arden is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Arden popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #711, with 50 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 50 births.

This profile covers 276 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 2001 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Arden is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 299 living people in the UK are called Arden. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Arden ranked #711 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 50 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 50 boys were registered as Arden.
  • Arden ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #339 in 2024.
  • Arden is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 299 living people in the UK are estimated to have Arden as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 74.6% of Arden registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#711

2024

Births in 2024

50

Latest year

Peak year

2024

50 births

Estimated living

299

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Arden

In England and Wales birth records, Arden has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 74.6% of registrations are for boys and 25.4% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

75% boys
25% girls
Boys276 (74.6%)Girls94 (25.4%)

Arden registered for boys

  • Ranked #711 in 2024
  • 50 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2024 (50 births)

Arden registered for girls

  • Ranked #2,771 in 2024
  • 9 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2019 (10 births)

Meaning

What does Arden mean?

The name Arden has its origins in the Old English language, where it was derived from the word "ardern," meaning "valley of the eagle." This name was initially used to refer to areas or places where eagles were known to nest or reside. The name's earliest recorded use as a given name dates back to the 13th century.

During the Middle Ages, Arden was a popular name among the English nobility and gentry, particularly those who owned estates or lands in forested areas or valleys. The name gained further prominence in literature through its association with the Forest of Arden, a famous setting in William Shakespeare's play "As You Like It," written in the late 16th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Arden was Arden of Faversham, an English landowner who lived in the late 13th century. He was the subject of a famous medieval play, "Arden of Faversham," which depicted his tragic murder by his wife and her lover.

Another notable figure was Arden Wingate (1889-1944), a British Army officer who played a significant role in the formation and training of special forces units during World War II. He is remembered for his innovative tactics and leadership in the Middle East and Burma campaigns.

In the realm of literature, Arden Quin (1913-2012) was an American author and playwright known for her works exploring themes of family, relationships, and personal identity. Her play "The Closing Door" was a Broadway success in the 1950s.

Arden Myrin (born 1973) is an American actress and comedian who has appeared in numerous television shows and films, including "MADtv," "Reno 911!," and "Insecure."

Arden Cho (born 1985) is an American actress and model of Korean descent, best known for her roles in the TV series "Teen Wolf" and "Chicago Med."

Throughout history, the name Arden has been associated with natural beauty, nobility, and literary heritage. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to its connection to the English countryside and the cultural significance it has gained through literary works and historical figures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Arden over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Arden in England and Wales, from 1999 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Arden, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 50 births in 2024, compared with 50 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
015304459199920112024

Decades

Arden by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Arden was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #1012 155 5
2010s #2955 94 10
2000s #3294 27 7

Geography

Where Arden is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Arden. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Arden ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #339 in 2024.

Northern Ireland
4
Scotland
4

Across the UK

Arden in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#619 in 2024

5 years of NRS records, 21 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#339 in 2024

1 years of NISRA records, 4 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Arden

  • Arden Maddison

    association football player

    Footballer (1900-1987)

    1900-1987

  • Arden Seymore Hawker

    farmer; cattle rancher; military officer; politician

    Australian politician

    1880-1953

  • Arden Adderley

    naval officer

    British Royal Navy officer (1784-?)

    1784-

Related

Names similar to Arden

FAQ

Arden: questions and answers

How popular is the name Arden in the UK right now?

In 2024, Arden was ranked #711 for boys in England and Wales, with 50 births registered.

When was Arden most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 50 babies registered as Arden in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Arden?

Grove or shady glade, a masculine given name of Celtic origin.

How many people are called Arden in the UK?

A total of 276 babies have been registered as Arden across the 22 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 21 more in Scotland and 4 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Arden most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Arden ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #339 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.