Four years ago when my husband and I were still just dating we discussed baby names with each other. I had said I like the name [name_u]Auden[/name_u] and he said he liked it too. [name_u]Ever[/name_u] since then we thought that for sure our first girl (if we had one) would be named [name_u]Auden[/name_u]. However, the name is associated with a poet, and to be honest I have never heard of the guy and I don’t really read poetry at all. My question is: [name_m]Will[/name_m] people automatically assume that we chose the name [name_u]Auden[/name_u] because we like the poet? Or is that poet far enough in the past that people won’t really make the connection? We really like how the name sounds and looks, and I also like the meaning of “old friend”
I don’t think many people will think of W.H. [name_u]Auden[/name_u] right off and even if a few people do I don’t see how that could be a bad thing. [name_u]Auden[/name_u] contains sounds that are currently popular and I think most people will just think of it as another on trend name.
I didn’t make the connection until you pointed it out, if that helps. If you were using an obscure surname or something more ubiquitous (like [name_u]Poe[/name_u]), then you might have a problem, but I don’t think [name_u]Auden[/name_u] fits into either category. It’s a lovely name, and it’s similar enough to more popular names like [name_u]Aidan[/name_u] and [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] that people shouldn’t raise any eyebrows.
Well I don’t want to repeat everything the the two previous posters said, but I definitely agree that it’d be fine to use [name_u]Auden[/name_u] despite not being a poetry fan!
Thanks for the input guys 
I would assume [name_u]Auden[/name_u] was a family name, or after WH [name_u]Auden[/name_u], especially since he’s one of my favourite poets.
[name_f]Lovely[/name_f] name! I don’t think that it would matter at all, children of her age won’t automatically associate with the [name_u]Poet[/name_u].
I don’t know of the poet so I wouldn’t make the association. I’d assume only poetry fans (adults generally) would.
I think people would think of the poet but probably wouldn’t assume it was honouring him.
I would assume you loved [name_u]Auden[/name_u], the poet.
I agree with this.
And I’m amused by the idea that since WH [name_u]Auden[/name_u] was a poet in the past that the association is no longer relevant. Great poets remain great poets, and his work is just as relevant as it ever was. He will continue to be read and studied well into the future I’m sure.
I would associate it with the poet, which is not a bad thing.
Some people will be familiar with and wonder if you named her after the poet. Others, like you, will have no such associations. Frankly, this is true for a great many wonderful names and should by no means put you off. The name is absolutely lovely, the cultural association is positive, and any incorrect assumptions are easily brushed off with a light “Oh, no, we just liked the name!”