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Original poster

Thoughts on Arwen vs Eden

83 replies

HRF2022 · 27/05/2025 12:11

Hello! Just wanting to get people's thoughts...sister for Willow - stuck between these two names!

I absolutely love the name Arwen, but my concern is that it is too linked to Lord of the Rings. I'm not a particular fan of the books/ films but I don't dislike them, my husband likes them. I didn't actually realise Arwen was from LOTR and fell in love with it when my husband suggested it so it was only after I found out the link.

Would people automatically assume we were super fans if they heard this name, or do you think it could be a standalone name in it's own right?

Our other choice is Eden, which we both like, but I can't help but feel Arwen is a bit prettier and unusual.

Would love to know your thoughts!

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peanutbuttertoasty · 28/05/2025 21:14

HRF2022 · 28/05/2025 12:32

Thank you for all your responses! Seems they are both rather marmite names 😂

We love Elowyn, almost used it for our first, but didn't want it shortened to Elle/Ellie? Also like the idea of Anwen so thank you for the suggestions.

Another on our shortlist is Evelyn, we both love it but wouldn't want it shortened to Evie - which feels inevitable?!

Maybe Elodie too?

NefiBlw · 28/05/2025 16:01

It was my great-great grandmother's name and it's Austro-hungarian for exquisite beauty Wink (I made that up before someone else did)

Squirrelsnut · 28/05/2025 15:46

Wendy was made up by JM Barrie for Peter Pan and became an accepted name. If you like Arwen, use it. It's beautiful.

mathanxiety · 28/05/2025 15:36

I much prefer Eden and I think it goes better with Willow.

Edie is a sweet diminutive too.

Mynewnameis · 28/05/2025 15:16

I've lived in Wales for decades and assumed Arwen was welsh. Know one Arwen and one Eden

MerryPortas · 28/05/2025 15:13

What about Seren - similar feel, without LOTR.

NefiBlw · 28/05/2025 15:12

The LOTR Arwen is like ARE-wun.

The Arwen on Pobol y Cwm is ARR-wenn

Awen who someone mentioned is OW-enn or OU-enn (OW as in English Now, How etc, OU like in Ouch, couch etc)
It definitely is a name, and it means muse.

BebbanburgIsMine · 28/05/2025 15:06

Jasmin71 · 27/05/2025 16:27

Change it to Awen. Pronunciation is the same and it can't be confused then.

Arwen and Awen are not pronounced the same, not if you’re Scottish.

Also Awen is a pagan Druid chant, used to represent the creative force that is in all things, it’s usually associated with bards, artists and seers, it translates from the Welsh into inspiration or divine muse.

Beautiful word, but not a name.

Incidentally, Arwen is the name my DD1 has always said will be the name of any future DDs she may have.

Moreteaandchocolate · 28/05/2025 13:54

Arwen is definitely my favourite! Followed by Anwen. Elowen = Ellie, Evelyn = Evie.

Bbq1 · 28/05/2025 13:43

GreyhoundGal1 · 27/05/2025 12:47

I'm afraid they would think you're super fans because Arwen isn't a name outside LOTR (as far as I know). See behind the name that gives history: https://www.behindthename.com/name/arwen

There are similar names Elowen and Anwen that you might like though?

Edited

I know an Arwen aged 10 and despite watching LOTR I have never connected it with that. Most people, like myself won't connect it to LOTR

NefiBlw · 28/05/2025 13:39

Like the Garden of Eden, I expect. Why would she use a Belgian pronunciation?

FrodoBiggins · 28/05/2025 12:32

Pronounced like "Garden of Eden" or "Eden Hazard"?

Original poster
HRF2022 · 28/05/2025 12:32

Thank you for all your responses! Seems they are both rather marmite names 😂

We love Elowyn, almost used it for our first, but didn't want it shortened to Elle/Ellie? Also like the idea of Anwen so thank you for the suggestions.

Another on our shortlist is Evelyn, we both love it but wouldn't want it shortened to Evie - which feels inevitable?!

OP posts:
PrincessOfPreschool · 28/05/2025 10:32

CurlewKate · 28/05/2025 07:08

Arwen and Willow both have a very fantasy/LOTR type vibe, I’m afraid. And Arwen was male. How about Anwen? My nephew’s girlfriend in Anwen. She’s Welsh living in England and never has any trouble with spelling or pronunciation.

Which Arwen was male? Not the LOTR one. And a previous poster said in Welsh names, - wen is a female ending.

CruCru · 28/05/2025 10:27

Yes, I would say “Ahhh-wuhn”.

rainbowstardrops · 28/05/2025 10:25

I love Eden!
I’d be wondering about the ‘W’ with Willow and Arwen. It’s a bit of a mouthful if you’re calling them together!
I love Willow though

PrincessOfPreschool · 28/05/2025 10:24

Eden to me is a boy's name because I know 2! I do know one girl but not as well as the boys.

PrincessOfPreschool · 28/05/2025 10:21

I really love Arwen. I'm not a LOTR superfan, read it once, watched it a couple of times but I just loved her name from the moment I read the book. It would make me think of LOTR but not that you were superfans just that you liked the name in the book or film.

My only worry is that to sound pretty it does need to be said with a bit of a rolled 'rrr' Arr - wen and I think to rhyme with hen. I would worry most English would say 'Ahhh-wuhn'.

angelinawasrobbed · 28/05/2025 10:13

Flippinec · 28/05/2025 08:54

How about Arden?

i was just about to type that!

Hyperion100 · 28/05/2025 10:10

LOTR is the better movie by a long shot.

Loved Willow as a kid but it hasnt aged well.

Will Arwen forever hold that over Willow?

CruCru · 28/05/2025 10:08

peanutbuttertoasty · 27/05/2025 20:59

Is Arwen actually a Welsh name or just made up by Tolkien for LOTR? I know one and they insist on making everybody roll the bloody R even though it’s England! Which strikes me as a little demanding, especially if not actually a real name. Hardly easy to say! I just avoid using her name TBH. Would advise against unless you’re laid back about how it’s pronounced (or you live in Wales or Spain/italy!)

That is super annoying. I am not good at rolling my Rs and would sound a plonker.

Which of these sound nicer in your local accent? Imagine it bellowed across a playground. In the local accent here, Eden when shouted isn’t a particularly nice name (north London).

It’s up to you if you want to choose a name made up by Tolkien. The name Lorna was invented by the author of Lorna Doone and Shakespeare made up loads of names, including Jessica.

somejust · 28/05/2025 10:06

How about Wren? Sounds kind of like Arwen? Follows the nature vibe also. Wren and Willow do look a bit cutesy, but not so bad because they have different sounds at the beginning.

Krakinou · 28/05/2025 10:03

Arwen definitely says LOTR to me but not a bad association. I would find the R hard to pronounce though and I feel like it should be. Ah-wen just doesn’t sound as pretty.

Love Anwen and Olwen.

lightslittle · 28/05/2025 09:28

There was a girl in my school (long before LOTR ring films, but obviously not the books) called Arwen.

I think now it would be too linked to the film, we considered it for our DD but husband ruled it out even though he’s a big LOTR fan!

however I will say that once you’ve named your child, any associations with that name will probably go away and it’ll just become the name of your child. We have an Enya, and now for our friends and family and people that know us it’s just her name…not associated with the singer at all.

ForeveraBluebird · 28/05/2025 09:18

How about Rowan, it’s pretty and sounds nice with Willow.

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