Arnold Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Arnold has its roots in Old High German, combining the meanings of 'eagle' and 'power'. It has evolved through various historical forms and is often associated with strong leadership traits. There is no direct biblical relevance associated with the name, but it gained popularity during the medieval period due to saints. Today, it is perceived as a strong name, albeit somewhat old-fashioned, with notable figures such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Arnold Palmer.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Arnold"
Pronunciation
/ˈɑːrnəld/
Origin
Old High German
Etymology
The name Arnold is derived from the Germanic elements 'arn' meaning 'eagle' and 'wald' meaning 'power' or 'ruler'.
Meaning
Eagle power
Language Evolution
Arnwald, Arnoldus, Arnold
Historical Usage
The name Arnold gained popularity in the early medieval period, especially in the context of the Christian church, due to several saints named Arnold.
Variants & Derivatives
Arnie, Arnaldo, Arnoldo
Modern Popularity & Image
In contemporary society, the name Arnold is often associated with strength and leadership, though it may be viewed as somewhat old-fashioned.
Famous People
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Arnold Palmer, Arnold Bennett
📊 Arnold Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Arnold Name Visualizations
✨ Arnold Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 2,031 peak births in 1924
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in North Dakota
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 11 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Arnold"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Arnold"
"Arnold" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 94th of 7545 | 29,588 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 113th of 6773 | 31,280 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 197th of 7552 | 25,484 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 361st of 10718 | 7,770 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 596th of 16616 | 4,330 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1036th of 24088 | 2,653 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1615th of 23106 | 1,230 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 2581st of 9107 | 213 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2833rd of 9204 | 183 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 4953rd of 12526 | 119 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 11116th of 19264 | 35 |
Regional Popularity of "Arnold" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
4.94% 70th/1416 |
6.24% 86th/1379 |
6.09% 144th/2366 |
9.81% 112th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
6.40% 99th/1546 |
4.95% 77th/1556 |
6.42% 151st/2353 |
8.34% 129th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
8.85% 197th/2227 |
5.97% 145th/2430 |
7.33% 209th/2853 |
7.03% 195th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
13.04% 383rd/2937 |
8.84% 308th/3483 |
10.46% 368th/3518 |
8.43% 341st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
20.00% 737th/3685 |
12.58% 563rd/4475 |
12.26% 637th/5194 |
7.38% 466th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
29.77% 1364th/4582 |
20.93% 1081st/5164 |
14.54% 1063rd/7313 |
10.97% 819th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
49.27% 1963rd/3984 |
40.29% 1808th/4487 |
24.33% 1660th/6822 |
22.31% 1400th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Arnold" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
80.37% 1138th/1416 |
- | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
100.00% 1546th/1546 |
- | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Arnold"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Arnold" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Arnold" in the United States
The name Arnold is most popular in North Dakota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Arnold has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Arnold' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 94th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 113th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 197th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 361st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 596th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1036th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1615th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2581st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2833rd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4953rd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 11116th out of 19264 names. Discover how the name 'Arnold' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.