Naming our baby after a natural disaster?

[bellowbullow]

I am pregnant - don't know the sex. My DH and I have long been settled on the name of Eden for our first born daughter. We both love the name, as well as the nn Edie.

In addition, my DH grew up in the Eden Valley, in Cumbria, and we feel that the name is a nod to a beautiful part of the world, which means a lot to both of us. We don't live in the area, but have close family and friends that do.

You've probably seen that, over the past few days, the River Eden has massively flooded and devastated thousands of homes in the Eden Valley (Carlisle, Appleby etc.). Those closest to us have not been flooded, but we have many acquaintances who have been deeply affected and whose lives have been shattered as a result.

I suppose my question is, would you continue to use the name? Baby is not due for a few months, so a little way off, but from past experience, we know that many people will still not be back in their homes by then. Would it be bad taste/bad luck?

To be honest, I am reluctant to look for another name. The flooding does not detract from our affection for the Eden Valley, and in many ways reinforces the wild, natural beauty of the area.

What do you think?

I knew rivers had flooded... But I didn't realise we had a river Eden!

My dd is Eden, and all the comments on her name are lovely!

If hear the name Eden, I always think of it in the biblical sense rather than the valley it will be fine x

Tbh, I hadn't even realised that it was the River Eden that had flooded. Would have made zero connection.

Hi!
I'm from just outside Cockermouth, Cumbria not far from Carlisle. I don't see why anyone would think any less of you if you chose to name your daughter Eden. I think it's a lovely name tbh.
Go with your heart, after all it's your daughter not there's xx

It's a lovely name

You are massively over thing this.

Overthinking not over thing

Thanks everyone. You've convinced us not to worry - we will use the name if we have a girl.

SpendSpendSpend - We know that Eden can also be used as a boys name. It doesn't worry us. I think that it was used for boys more in the past, but the number of baby girls named Eden outnumbers boys by quite a way nowadays (407 girls/141 boys in 2014). As you can probably tell, I've done a LOT of thinking about this.