Arnold Boy

Popularity: #818 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AR-nold //ˈɑːrnəld//

Origin: German; Old High German

Meaning: German: eagle power; Old High German: strong as an eagle

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Arnold has its roots in the Germanic elements "arn" meaning "eagle" and "wald" meaning "power" or "ruler." This etymological foundation can be traced back to the Old High German form "Arnwald," which evolved into the Middle High German "Arnolt." The name made its way into the English language through the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, where it was introduced as a given name and later became a surname. The transition into English was facilitated by the influence of Norman culture, which integrated many Germanic names into the English lexicon.

Historically, the name Arnold has been borne by notable figures, including Saint Arnold of Soissons, a 7th-century figure known for his role in the establishment of the monastic community and his dedication to the care of the poor. His feast day is celebrated on July 14, and he is often invoked for protection against storms and bad weather.

The name also gained prominence through various medieval nobles and leaders, such as Arnold of Brescia, a 12th-century reformer who played a significant role in the political and religious landscape of Italy. The name's association with strength and leadership has contributed to its enduring presence in various cultures.

Culturally, Arnold has been associated with valor and nobility, often symbolizing a strong and protective figure. The name has also been linked to various literary and artistic representations, further embedding it in cultural consciousness.

In addition to its historical significance, diminutive forms such as Arnie have emerged, reflecting a more familiar or affectionate usage. Overall, the name Arnold encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution, historical significance, and cultural resonance that has allowed it to persist through the centuries.

Famous people named Arnold

In this section, you will find notable people named Arnold. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Arnold who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Arnold who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is an actor and former bodybuilder best known for The Terminator, Predator, and Total Recall.

Arnold Palmer is a professional golfer best known for winning seven Masters Tournaments and popularizing golf in America.

Fictional characters named Arnold

The following list of fictional characters named Arnold is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Arnold is a fictional character from the animated television series Hey Arnold!. He is a fourth grader with a distinctive football-shaped head who navigates life and friendships in a city neighborhood.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Arnold, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

AlbertAlfredArthurAndrewAdrian

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Arnold. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

AlfredArnoldusAldenAriAurelianAriusAlaric

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Arnold was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Arnold has ranked as high as #233 nationally, which occurred in 1924, and has been most popular in New York, California, Illinois, Texas, and Michigan.

In the past 5 years the name Arnold has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Arnold is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Arnold was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Arnold.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 120 120 0
2024 99 99 0
2023 105 105 0
2022 118 118 0
2021 112 112 0
2020 88 88 0
2019 115 115 0
2018 103 103 0
2017 120 120 0
2016 98 98 0
2015 95 95 0
2014 81 81 0
2013 97 97 0
2012 88 88 0
2011 113 113 0
2010 90 90 0
2009 125 125 0
2008 127 127 0
2007 137 137 0
2006 133 133 0
2005 153 153 0
2004 191 191 0
2003 213 213 0
2002 180 180 0
2001 219 219 0
2000 218 218 0
1999 188 188 0
1998 234 234 0
1997 245 245 0
1996 239 239 0
1995 236 236 0
1994 265 265 0
1993 327 327 0
1992 311 311 0
1991 323 323 0
1990 327 327 0
1989 287 287 0
1988 271 271 0
1987 270 270 0
1986 242 242 0
1985 193 193 0
1984 256 256 0
1983 257 257 0
1982 267 267 0
1981 259 259 0
1980 276 276 0
1979 277 277 0
1978 250 250 0
1977 286 280 6
1976 301 301 0
1975 321 321 0
1974 332 332 0
1973 395 388 7
1972 472 472 0
1971 498 498 0
1970 574 569 5
1969 615 610 5
1968 658 658 0
1967 780 780 0
1966 823 816 7
1965 950 945 5
1964 1,050 1,043 7
1963 1,152 1,144 8
1962 1,151 1,151 0
1961 1,163 1,153 10
1960 1,210 1,201 9
1959 1,200 1,192 8
1958 1,136 1,136 0
1957 1,265 1,265 0
1956 1,227 1,216 11
1955 1,322 1,315 7
1954 1,292 1,282 10
1953 1,399 1,391 8
1952 1,471 1,463 8
1951 1,428 1,428 0
1950 1,513 1,508 5
1949 1,597 1,590 7
1948 1,646 1,641 5
1947 1,801 1,795 6
1946 1,581 1,571 10
1945 1,412 1,407 5
1944 1,468 1,461 7
1943 1,705 1,705 0
1942 1,695 1,685 10
1941 1,606 1,600 6
1940 1,593 1,581 12
1939 1,623 1,617 6
1938 1,819 1,819 0
1937 1,739 1,725 14
1936 1,722 1,712 10
1935 1,890 1,883 7
1934 1,790 1,780 10
1933 1,767 1,749 18
1932 1,834 1,820 14
1931 1,852 1,835 17
1930 1,959 1,948 11
1929 2,000 1,979 21
1928 1,989 1,974 15
1927 2,016 1,998 18
1926 1,900 1,882 18
1925 1,986 1,972 14
1924 2,031 2,014 17
1923 1,938 1,927 11
1922 1,910 1,892 18
1921 2,003 1,982 21
1920 1,920 1,911 9
1919 1,777 1,767 10
1918 1,927 1,910 17
1917 1,793 1,781 12
1916 1,869 1,858 11
1915 1,702 1,691 11
1914 1,186 1,174 12
1913 1,039 1,032 7
1912 774 767 7
1911 348 348 0
1910 258 258 0
1909 237 237 0
1908 202 202 0
1907 177 177 0
1906 164 164 0
1905 144 144 0
1904 149 149 0
1903 134 134 0
1902 107 107 0
1901 110 110 0
1900 122 122 0
1899 98 98 0
1898 112 112 0
1897 103 103 0
1896 102 102 0
1895 96 96 0
1894 79 79 0
1893 80 80 0
1892 80 80 0
1891 57 57 0
1890 52 52 0
1889 42 42 0
1888 51 51 0
1887 38 38 0
1886 41 41 0
1885 33 33 0
1884 49 49 0
1883 42 42 0
1882 42 42 0
1881 29 29 0
1880 37 37 0

Top States for Arnold (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 17
40%
TX 8
19%
FL 7
17%
NC 5
12%
NY 5
12%