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Arden is a name that appears in geography, literature, and personal naming. It is used as both a surname and a given name, and it is the title or label of several places and historical regions.

In literature, the Forest of Arden is a central setting in William Shakespeare’s plays, most notably As You Like It. The forest functions as a pastoral, somewhat idealized landscape where characters step away from court life and social expectations to reflect on love, identity, and personal growth. The name Arden in literary contexts has come to evoke notions of rustic retreat and natural simplicity.

Geographically, Arden refers to historical and contemporary place names. In England, the historic Arden (often called the Forest of Arden) occupies parts of central Warwickshire and has influenced regional identity and local toponyms. Beyond the United Kingdom, the name Arden has been adopted for various towns, districts, and neighborhoods in other English-speaking countries, reflecting patterns of migration and cultural transfer. The specific boundaries and administrative statuses of these places vary by country and era.

As an onomastic term, Arden is used as both a surname and a given name. The etymology is not definitively established; it is commonly linked to topographic or regional origins, including associations with the historic Arden forest and, by extension, pastoral or nature imagery. The name continues to appear in contemporary naming and cultural contexts.