(c) Michelle Wojdyla, 2005: Jennifer Wester, from Texas, and her Russian-born ice dance partner Daniil Barantsev recently welcomed a son with an ‘international’ name.
I spotted a name the other day that I just had to feature! Need a new moniker that is a cross between Anton and Aiden, sounds like Brandon, and provides the commonplace nickname Andy? We live in a creative naming society, to be sure (I’m looking at you, Miss The Blueprint 4!), and while that creativity can sometimes go further than some people are comfortable with – I, for one, love the idea of taking two names that mean something – maybe they’re family names – and making something new, unique to your new babe.
Former professional US ice dancing pair, Dallas-based Jennifer Wester and her Russian-born husband Daniil Barantsev, created a name recently that I fell in love with on sight! The couple, whose best international finish was winning the 2007 Nebelhorn Trophy, though Wester starred with Motley Crue’s Vince Neil on 2010’s Skating With the Stars, welcomed a son on December 29th in Texas – named Anden Daniel.
Anden, though, there’s no trouble with that pronunciation. And though Jennifer grabbed the name from scratch, she’s not the first to use it – though all references I can find online of this name came from completely different places. One woman, somewhere in the US, has a son named Anden, named as a variation on her too-popular maiden surname, Landon. As a variation on Old German name Anton (from the Latin Antonius), Anden could mean “wealthy man,” and that would technically make it an offshoot of common, if dated, Anthony.
But Anthony doesn’t seem to be the primary inspiration behind anyone using this name, nor is it uncommon to see names grow from the most popular ones of the day. I get the impression that, for the few using this name, it felt accessible because of Aiden’s popularity. It’s why, especially with girls’ names, you have for example Kira/Kara/Kyra/Cora. Phonetically, you know what you want as a parent naming your kid, but you also know you don’t want something so popular your son will be known by their last initial at school or work. And today more than ever, in this global village in which we all live, “international” names are a growing requirement.
What do you think of Anden? Too weird, or just right?
Not my style at all, and to me it sounds like, “And then?” Luckily his surname isn’t Watt.
However, it’s obviously perfect for them, and it does have that exotic-yet-familiar sound to it that so many parents are aiming for.
Our son, Anden Keith, was born on 11/2/10. We were looking for a spin off of my mom’s middle name, Ann, because she was diagnosed with cancer mid-way through my pregnancy. We wanted a name that was a little different, but not weird. We found the name Anden and fell in love with it! Our little Anden is such a blessing!
My son is also name Anden Lamond who was born on 4/25/2009. I always wondered if there were others with this name. Every time I tell someone my son name they always say it is unique. My husband and I wanted his name to start with an A. My name starts with the letter A as well as my other two daughter. So we were looking for another A name for a boy but that was different. I didn’t want to use Aiden so my husband came up with the name Anden. I fell in love with it!!!
We are an all A family as well, along with my brother and his family. Was looking for something different and I (thought) I invented Anden lol. Guess not!!
My son Anden Christopher was born 8/9/2005 I too used 2 names to get Anden, I love it!
That’s awesome – which two, if I may ask?
My Anden was born in 2008, and we got the name from my mom Ann, and father in law “Den” (Dennis) who both had serious health scares while we were expecting him. We didn’t know if they would be here to meet him. So thankful they were! We all love his name!
I found online a meaning for the name Anden – Means to be strong and Smart!
I love that name story! Thanks so much for sharing!
My Anden is turning 1! I am loving all the name stories of how they came to love the name Anden! It is a one of a kind name and I like that it isn’t over used. It seems to be picked for personal reasons and that is what a name is all about!
My son’s dad Denis and I, Anne, decided on Anden when our son was born in 1990. He is now almost 23 and there has never been a day that any of us have regretted his unique name. When he was about 5 and everyone was discovering the “my name means …” web sites and books, he decided that it meant “One of great imagination!” We went onto some online sites and entered his name with his meaning then. He proudly announced that “No one has my name …. yet!” He’s still filled with imagination and confidence.
I named my son Anden and he is now 7 he started asking last year where the name came from and why no one else had the name in his school. So we looked it up and found one site that said the name Anden means to be Strong and Smart 🙂 I love that!
My son Anden was born 9/9/03 and I got the name idea from a reality show, of all things. We were watching Paradise Hotel and there was a guy named Anden on there. I fell in love with the name. At the hospital when he was born, everybody thought we named him Anden because my name is Angie and his fathers was Brandon. Not the case, but it did work out well.
Wow!! My son also got his name Anden from this exact TV reality show!! That’s crazy, no one I’ve ever explained this to remembers this show!! Lol. It stuck with me through 3 pregnancies, when I finally has a boy!! I’m so thrilled to read this response!
I named my son Anden 39 years ago. Anderson is a family name and I always loved the nickname “Andy.” I just contracted Anderson and loved the Anden name it made. He has grown up to be a magnificant man and now his nephew will be named for him. Another Anden in our family!
My little Anden Mitchell was born 12-06-13. I needed an AM intials because we have Austin Matthew and Ally Morgan. I had my Husband pick 10 A names from the internet and that was ine of them. As soon as i seen it i loved it. Everyone wants to call him Aiden. Has anyone dealt with that? Anyways I think its a awesome unigue name and goes welk with my other 2 kids names. Thanks for the stories of the rest on how you all came up with it.
I always deal with that!! I just smile and politely say it’s Anden not Aiden. You would think that it’s pretty easy to figure out how to pronounce but oh well just smile and keep moving!
Once it gains some traction and more people see it, or once Aiden/Aidan starts to fade, it will probably get easier!
I think Anden is an awesome name, we named our first son Anden William. People do like to mis-pronounce it and call him Aiden, but my wife has no problem correcting them when it happens.
My son is anden lee M. Born in 05. I had no idea there were this many andens. I think ist an awesome name and am glad to hear it get used.
My son is also named Anden. He was born 12 years ago. I wanted a unique name and just thought it up one late night. It really didn’t have a ton of meaning I just like how it sounded “normal” yet was very unique. Funny thing is that his middle name is Anthony. I just occasionally check the web to see if there are others out there and this story popped up. This story marks only the 5th Anden I have heard of.
This is crazy. My sons name is Anden (born 2014). I made it up. Or so I thought. And, coincidently, my husbands name is Anthony. I didn’t think their names had any connection. I just happened to google his name and found this article. Disappointed that i didn’t actually make up the name but glad you like it!!
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