Arwen is a name of Welsh origin, derived from the elements "ar" meaning silver and "wen" meaning white or fair. It is interpreted as "silver fair" or "fair silver." This name has gained popularity in recent years due to its use in J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy novel series "The Lord of the Rings," where Arwen Undómiel, daughter of Elrond, plays a significant role.
Arwen first appeared in English literature as a character in "The Hobbit" (1937), but her story was expanded upon in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy (1954-1955). In these works, Arwen is portrayed as an Elf maiden who falls in love with the human Aragorn. Their relationship serves as a poignant example of the differing lifespans between Elves and humans, ultimately leading to tragedy.
Prior to its appearance in Tolkien's writings, there are no known instances of the name Arwen being used in Wales or elsewhere. Its use in popular culture has since made it more widely recognized and adopted by parents seeking unique names for their daughters. Despite this recent popularity, Arwen remains a rarity outside of fantasy fandom circles.
In conclusion, Arwen is a Welsh-derived name meaning "silver fair" or "fair silver," with its most notable appearance being in J.R.R. Tolkien's literary works. Though not traditionally used before the 20th century, it has since gained recognition as a unique and beautiful choice for girls' names.
The name Arwen experienced a significant rise in popularity from the late 1990s onwards, with a steep increase occurring around the year 2000. This correlates with the release of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" movie in December 1999, suggesting that the name Arwen may have been popularized by the character Arwen Undomiel from J.R.R. Tolkien's novels and Peter Jackson's film adaptations. Before this period, the name was quite rare, with fewer than 20 births per year on average between 1968 and 1995. However, starting in 1996, the number of births began to rise consistently, reaching a peak of 178 births in 2023. In total, there have been 2968 recorded births with the name Arwen between 1968 and 2023.