Eden

[Shasha17]

Met a little Eden and I've never met one before! I thought it was such a cute name and am considering adding it to my list, but I just mentioned this on a video call with two close friends and one said the name is too religious (which is a positive for me as I love biblical and saint names, so I didn't mind this point!). My other friend said she thought it was 'chavvy' and would sound silly compared with my other children's names which are all biblical, but she said it sounds especially bad with Tabitha, my daughter's name

I find it odd that Eden would be considered 'chavvy' as other biblical place names (like Lydia and Magdalene/Magdalena) aren't thought of like this at all. So what do you think - is she right? Do you think 'biblical/Christian' when you hear Eden or 'chavvy'?

And I'm sorry to say 'chavvy'. I know it's a horrid word. But I don't know how to word my question without including this word as it's a direct quote and I don't know what a socially acceptable synonym would be.

[Marcipex]

I’ve never heard of the bookmakers.
I know 2 girls called Eden and one man in his fifties.
Certainly not ‘chavvy’. I like it.

[RunRunGingerbreadMan]

I'm not keen, to me it's in the same group as Kai, Jayden, Chantelle etc, which just aren't names of the style I like (fine if you do obviously). I'd put Tabitha alongside names like Felicity, Elizabeth, Joseph, James etc. I also overthink things and would worry about unkind and nasty 'garden of Eden' type teasing when she's a teenager, which could be embarrassing and upsetting for her. I probably only think that because of my own school experience though.

[yourestandingonmyneck]

@RunRunGingerbreadMan

I'm not keen, to me it's in the same group as Kai, Jayden, Chantelle etc, which just aren't names of the style I like (fine if you do obviously). I'd put Tabitha alongside names like Felicity, Elizabeth, Joseph, James etc. I also overthink things and would worry about unkind and nasty 'garden of Eden' type teasing when she's a teenager, which could be embarrassing and upsetting for her. I probably only think that because of my own school experience though.

Couldn't disagree with this more.

I don't think Eden is in any way similar to Jayden, Kai, Chantelle et al.

I think it's a really good name, and it goes fine with Tabitha. Goes very well, in fact.

[yourestandingonmyneck]

Also can't really see much "Garden of Eden" related teasing 🤷‍♀️

[Nearlytheretrees]

Ds was at school with a girl Eden I always thought it was pretty. Not a fan on boys though

[WhatHoMarjorie]

I like the name Eden and knew it was popular with Jewish people and that it was also a boys' name. Although I think as a boys' name it's pronounced EDD-en?

But I like its simplicity and lack of frills and I personally think Tabitha and Eden sound great together.

Don't go canvassing people's opinions on names for your unborn baby though!

[AuntieStella]

Eden is lovely for a boy, but rather 80s daytime soap on a girl

[Pieceofpurplesky]

I have taught a few Edens. Gorgeous name

[Srettel]

Florence is not from the place name.

Florence became popular after Florence Nightingale, and she was named after the city.

[Kanaloa]

I think it’s a nice name. It’s not matchy with Tabitha but honestly I would see that as a pro rather than a con. Too many people name their children as if they’re a set when realistically they will spend most of their lives introducing themselves separately to their siblings - they don’t need to ‘match.’

I like that it’s quite a strong name, not too frilly. Names like Aleah/Aria/Anaya are popular where I live right now and I think Eden is a fresh new type of name. I do think of it as a girls name as I’ve never met a boy Eden.

[KirstenBlest]

Florence Nightingale might have been named after the place, but it's a virtue/nature name

[WhatHoMarjorie]

I think the bookies thing is a bit niche. Wouldn't put me off.

[Kanaloa]

There’s literally a whole chain of bookies called William Hill. Doesn’t seem to have damaged the name.

[Swearwolf]

I love Eden, I think it's really elegant and I can't understand the chavvy comment at all. I know a small Eden whose family call her Edie for short.

[MolkosTeenageAngst]

I know a teenage boy called Eden. He’s American and as his brothers are Josiah and Boaz I guess they also like biblical names!

[KirstenBlest]

It's not to my taste, so many similar names like Ellie, Evie, Erin etc

On a theme of bookmakers, she could have a sister called Coral

Eden Hazard might have influenced some parents

[DebbieHarrysCheekbones]

I rather like it for a girl or a boy.
Also think it makes a nice, different sib-set with Tabitha which is a beautiful name

[MilitantFawcett]

I have a wonderful friend called Eden (male) and my daughter has a lovely female friend at school called Eden. They are both very Not Chavvy so on the basis of two people an internet random likes I’d go for it 😁

[LadyMonicaBaddingham]

I met someone named 'Angela Eden' once and it remains, to this day, one of the most beautiful names I've ever heard. So I like it.

[Cindie943811A]

To me it is a very plain name. It may be biblical but until comparatively recently was not used as a given name.

[FlamingoDust]

It is a lovely name and not a chavvy one! Also love Tabitha (it was one my list and had been since I was little but my partner vetoed!) and I think it goes really well!

[TheFnozwhowasmirage]

It's my 18 year old daughter's middle name. I've never met or come across another. Her first name is a very traditional,some say upper class name,and Eden goes perfectly with it.

[WaitinginVain]

I'm frankly amazed at the suggestion of 'chaviness', whatever that actually is . I wouldn't think of it as religious and it's certainly not a modern name.
It was on my list for DS1 and I think it's a beautiful name and one of the few that would be equally beautiful for a DD.

[SylvanianFrenemies]

I am more familiar with it as a boy's name and love it. FWIW all the boys/men I've known with it (3) have been from an affluent middle-class background.

Also would be nice on a girl..

[WyncyG]

@KirstenBlest

It's not to my taste, so many similar names like Ellie, Evie, Erin etc

On a theme of bookmakers, she could have a sister called Coral

Eden Hazard might have influenced some parents

This is what I was going to say, it's a footballer name to me (I'm not remotely into football so he must be famous!) which is why I tended to agree. I still quite like it though, it sounds nice for boys or girls.

I don't think you can just take any word from the Bible and call it a biblical name though, like what about literally a child called Bible or Testament? Would that be a positive? So I find that argument a bit odd. Each to their own though.