Eden

[allthingsbeachinspired]

For a girl? What are your thoughts?
Brothers names are Old Testament Biblical.

Most of the biblical girls names either have shocking meanings (like Delilah and Jemima although the names themselves are really pretty).

Or they are names I grew up with and have too many negative associations that I can't seem to shift (Ruth, Hannah, Esther, Naomi, Sarah, Joanna, Judith, Rebecca).

Or just generally dont see the appeal/they dont suit what I'm looking for (Phoebe - spelling issues, Abigail - will become Abi, Bethany - will become Beth, Elizabeth - too many shortened versions and prefer a name less likely to be shortened, Martha - dowdy old lady).

It's very hard! I prefer a given name that's not likely to be shortened (I know it's not guaranteed, but less likely than say Elizabeth). Boys names are so easy compared to girls!

Eden for a girl is a guilty pleasure name for me, as in not my usual style at all but I really like it. The thing that puts me off though is it is unisex.

For what it's worth, I'd say surely most people know how to spell Phoebe these days? I wouldn't discount Phoebe purely on spelling.

Eden is my number one name for dd due in a couple of weeks. To me it’s feminine, despite being used for boys too. I also feel it’s strong, and has a bit of an edge to it that a lot of other names frequently used at the moment don’t.
It isn’t obviously shortened but I’d be happy with her/people using Edie too.

Eden is lovely.

Re Biblical names, about Leah, Miriam, Maria (prefer it to Mary), Anna?

I think Eden has become a bit like Summer and Autumn - ie naff

Phoebe is popular right now so spelling probably not a huge issue

Lois is lovely

Chloe

Lydia

Susannah

Tabitha

Julia

Claudia

Keziah

Anna / Hannah - or some variation like Annalise, Rosanna, Annis, Anest, Annabel

Some variation of Miriam like Maria, Marianne, Maryam, Rosemary

Isabel/la or Elsbeth, Lisbeth, Elsa, Elsie, Liesel rather than Elizabeth

Christabel, Christina

Leah

Sheba

Gabrielle / Gabriela

Raphaelle / Raphaela

Seraphina (Angels)

Theodora - gift of god

Lucy, Lucinda - light

feminine forms of male characters -

Josephine

Stephanie

Davina, Davinia

Philippa

Thomesina

Petra, Peta

Lucia, Lucienne

I know some of these are fleeting mentions, but still

The ones that are longer just start off with a short form you like

Eden will get shortened to Edie

Phoebe won't have spelling issues. It's a popular name.

I love Eden.
I know two girls called Eden (and one man, who must be late fifties).

Fwiw I think most people can spell Phoebe.

I love Eden! I know one and she doesn't get it shortened to Edie from what I've heard.

I like it
Edie is nice as a shortening too

I have an Eden and I adore it, no regrets and get lots of compliments

I think Eden is a lovely name, passes the 'would I like to be called that myself?' test which a lot of names don't.

I like Eden.
Other Old Testament girls names: Noah (I know more than one girl called this), Hepzibah, Keziah.

Shouldn't it be Noa rather than Noah for a girl?

@Whataretheodds perhaps, but the girls I know are definitely spelt with the “h” too. 🤷‍♀️

I wanted to call my dd now 7 Eden. So I love this name. I o ly know 1 other.

Eden is naff. It'll get shortened to Ede.
It's trendy and will date badly when the Evie/Ellie/Lily type names fall out of use for babies.
There are plenty of girl's names in the Bible without resorting to place names

Love it. I know one. Very unusual.

I bloody love it! Wish I had used it myself but thought it was too "out there" back then. It's not at all. Perfection in a name!

@theduchessofspork I just can't warm to any of those suggestions, sorry. Some were mentioned as not liking on my original post. Most are quite long and still going to be shortened.
Phoebe also sounds quite feeble.

There's a good selection of positive feedback, out shortlist now unless we change again is:
Sofia Matilda or Eden Matilda.
Love Matilda but a friend, not a close friend though, used it. So I feel reluctant to use it. Feel like it would cause issues? Although only seen her Matilda twice in almost 4 years.....

If you love Matilda, go for it, you might not be friends in 10 years. I prefer Eden, but go with the name you think you want for your daughter, don't worry about a friend's name choice if you don't see them often. I love Sofia but it's much more common than Eden (I don't mind that but many want a more unique name).

I love Eden. If I had another baby girl she would be called Eden, I think it's beautiful.

People will almost certainly spell Phoebe wrong. I know loads of people who misspell it Pheobe.

@Blinkityblonk Ahhh thank you. I've put Eden Matilda onto my shortlist. That way I have the beautifulness of Eden which is less likely to be shortened and I also get to use Matilda too. Sounds like a win win!! And it's a meaningful name too.

Eden Matilda is really beautiful 💗

Eden Matilda is lovely!!!