Find out how popular the first name Ardell has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ardell by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ardell is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Ardell being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Ardell.

The history of the first name Ardell

The name Ardell is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "ard" meaning "point" or "promontory" and "dell" meaning "valley." It was originally a surname, referring to someone who lived in a small valley or near a promontory.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Ardell dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Domesday Book, a historical record commissioned by King William the Conqueror in 1086. The name was likely used as a locational surname, referring to a person's place of origin or residence.

In the 16th century, the name Ardell gained popularity as a given name, particularly among the English nobility. One notable bearer of the name was Sir Ardell Wentworth (1530-1596), a member of the English gentry and a prominent landowner in Yorkshire.

During the 17th century, the name Ardell was sometimes associated with the Puritans, a Protestant religious group that sought to purify the Church of England. Some Puritan families may have chosen the name for its biblical connotations, as it resembled the name "Ardelia," which is derived from the Greek word "ardelos," meaning "fertile plain."

In the 18th century, the name Ardell gained popularity in the American colonies. One notable bearer was Ardell Braddock (1715-1781), a British soldier who served in the French and Indian War and was heavily involved in the Braddock Expedition, a failed attempt to capture Fort Duquesne (modern-day Pittsburgh) from the French in 1755.

Another notable bearer of the name Ardell was Ardell Goodwin (1785-1867), a prominent American businessman and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from New Hampshire from 1835 to 1837.

In the 19th century, the name Ardell was relatively uncommon, but it was still used in various parts of the English-speaking world. One notable bearer was Ardell Mott (1826-1899), an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Mott Haven neighborhood in the Bronx, New York.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ardell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ardell, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!