Arden

Comes from Eastern Europe, meaning a small forest.

My brother and I share Arden as a middle name. It was our father's name. It is of Hebrew origin and means "fervent".

Arden is related to both the Forest of Arden in England and the Ardennes region of Belgium and France (in Latin Ardennes Silva). The Ardennes region was associated with the Celtic goddess Arduinna, which also comes from the same root. Ardennes Silva translates to 'high forest' referring to a forest on a mountain or hill.

Many sources say the name derives from the Ardennes, home to the Goddess Arduinna. She was a goddess of the forest and the hunt often depicted riding a wild boar. This came from the Celtic 'Ar Denn' and was mentioned by Julius Caesar in his 'War of Gaules'.

Another site claims Arden's source is aduenna silva, a Latin phrase meaning "Great forest."

In ancient Greek, "arden" means "to lift up high". Compare it to the "eagle valley" in Old English.