Why did Stephenie Meyer choose the name "Cullen"?

Question: Why did Stephenie Meyer choose the name "Cullen"!?

This is probably a very idiodic question!. But why did Stephenie Meyer choose the last name Cullen the Twilight series!? The main reason I'm asking I guess is because my last name is Cullen and I've just never seen anybody else, or heard of anyone else with the last name Cullen, I seriously thought I was the only person in the world with that last name lol!. I just found it odd that she chose that name for some reason O!.oWww@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Not having read Twilight, my guess is that it refers to 'culling' the herd--vampires, as predators, are seen as culling the herd of humans, or cutting them down to a more manageable size!.

In Irish, Cuilinn (anglicized to Cullen) does mean (roughly) 'handsome boy,' as the previous poster said, too, speaking as someone who's passably fluent in the language!. The girls' name Colleen derives similarly, though it's simply Irish for 'girl!.'Www@QuestionHome@Com

i THINK (don't know) that it's irish / gaelic for handsome!.!.!.
(i came across it once before)

OMG hahaha your last name is Cullen!?
JEALOUS!!!
You can now say!.!.!. oh yeah, i'm married to Edward Cullen!.!.! lolWww@QuestionHome@Com

When I was in high school, there was a girl in my class whose last name was Cullen!. Her father's name is Edward, actually!.

He's not a vampire and he doesn't sparkle, though!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

haha, that is what my best friend said to me! Her name is Kara Cullen, amazing!. My other friend didn't believe me but now she does, idk why she chose it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

OMG!!! that is sooooo wierd! not the question, but that my boyfriend's name is dalton and i luv luv luv EDWARD CULLEN!!!!! OMG THAT IS SO FREAKY!!

Omg so jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~MMs~Www@QuestionHome@Com

lol good qs!.!.!.!.but ur very lucky to have cullen as ur real last name lol if u notice my yahoo last name is cullen but that really isnt my last name!.!.!. i wish it was!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

lol!.!.!.maybe it's just a coincidenceWww@QuestionHome@Com

i dont know choose a last name from the hat lolWww@QuestionHome@Com

Maybe I'm your brother!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

cuz she felt like it!?

Great book!. Lucky!. Very cool last name!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

uhhh luckkkyyy! i pretend like my last name is cullen!. haha not really but I LOVEEE EDWARDDDWww@QuestionHome@Com

i don't know who she choose it but i like that nameWww@QuestionHome@Com

idk but i like ur last name!!!!!!!!!Www@QuestionHome@Com