Edén (the correct Spanish spelling) sounds [e'ðen] (eh-DHEN) and it is traditionally used for boys in Spanish speaking countries since long time ago; think about Edén
Pastora (the Comandante Cero), born in 1938. And that it is used as masculine name is not surprising because, not being linked with
Marian titles, the place name is masculine in Spanish (el Edén).
I think that the use of Edén as given name in Spanish predates the use of
Eden in English (and that is why is very surprising to a lot of Spanish speakers the use as girl name), mainly in some American countries where the Biblical names are very popular.
Perhaps the US Hispanics see Edén as a refreshing alternative to Efrén and that is why it suddenly growns up in popularity.
A Spanish respelling of the English pronunciation of
Aidan is Eidan, which is not unknown.
Lumia
http://onomastica.mailcatala.comThis message was edited 5/10/2009, 7:30 AM