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The short answer
Eden is a unisex name taken from the biblical place name, the Garden of Eden. Behind the Name gives two possible sources for the word: Hebrew עֵדֶן (ʿeḏen) meaning "pleasure, delight", or Sumerian 𒂔 (edin) meaning "plain". It is pronounced EE-dən. In the Old Testament, Eden is the garden where Adam and Eve lived before their expulsion, which gives the name its strong association with paradise. As a given name it is modern in English and French. In the United States it ranked #70 for girls and #544 for boys in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name describes Eden as being "from the biblical place name, itself possibly from Hebrew עֵדֶן (ʿeḏen) meaning 'pleasure, delight', or perhaps derived from Sumerian 𒂔 (edin) meaning 'plain'". The entry does not settle on one derivation, so the meaning is best described as likely rather than established. The name's associations come from the Old Testament account of the Garden of Eden, described as the place where the first people, Adam and Eve, lived before they were expelled. Behind the Name lists the usage as Hebrew, English (modern) and French (modern).
Editorial confidence: likely
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrew | עֵדֶן (ʿeḏen) | pleasure, delight (possible source) |
| Sumerian | 𒂔 (edin) | plain (possible source) |
Competing or overlapping origins
- Hebrew ʿeḏen, "pleasure, delight" — the derivation most often associated with the biblical garden.
- Sumerian edin, "plain" — an alternative source Behind the Name mentions for the place name.
Popularity
Eden is used for both sexes in the United States, but far more often for girls: it ranked #70 for girls and #544 for boys in 2025 (Social Security Administration). Behind the Name labels the name "Feminine & Masculine", which agrees with the SSA data.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (girls) | 2025 | #70 | ssa-2025 |
| United States (boys) | 2025 | #544 | ssa-2025 |
United States, 2025: #70 (Social Security Administration)
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Edie
Variants: Éden, Edén
What the name feels like
Eden is a short, two-syllable name with a soft, open sound and an immediate association with paradise and gardens. It sits comfortably among modern word-and-place names while carrying a biblical pedigree, and it works for either sex.
Style tags: biblical, place name, unisex, two syllables, nature
Editorial interpretation: The style impressions above are editorial opinion, not fact. The nickname Edie is a natural short form, not a diminutive documented by Behind the Name; Eve and Adam are listed here because of the biblical story, not as etymological relatives. The accented spellings Éden and Edén come from Behind the Name's user-submitted list.
If you like this name
Names that share Eden's biblical roots, its place-name feel or its short, gentle sound. These groupings are editorial suggestions.
Similar by origin
Similar by sound
Similar by style
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Eden mean?
Eden comes from the biblical place name, the Garden of Eden. Behind the Name says the word is possibly from Hebrew ʿeḏen meaning "pleasure, delight", or perhaps from Sumerian edin meaning "plain".
Is Eden a girl's name or a boy's name?
Both. In the United States in 2025 Eden ranked #70 for girls and #544 for boys, so it is used for either sex but much more often for girls.
Is Eden a biblical name?
Yes. In the Old Testament, the Garden of Eden is the place where Adam and Eve lived before they were expelled. Eden is a place name in the Bible rather than the name of a person.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Eden — supports etymology, biblical context, pronunciation, gender label, usage.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
