Thoughts on Arwen vs Eden

[HRF2022]

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!

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.

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.

What about Seren - similar feel, without LOTR.

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

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

Edie is a sweet diminutive too.

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

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

Maybe Elodie too?