The name Arinna has its roots in the ancient Hittite language, spoken by the people of the Hittite Empire, which flourished in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) from the 18th to the 13th century BCE. The name is derived from the Hittite word "arin," meaning "to give" or "to grant," and is believed to have been a popular name among the Hittite nobility and royalty.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arinna can be found in the ancient Hittite cuneiform tablets, which mention a priestess named Arinna who served in the temple of the sun goddess Arinnitti. This suggests that the name may have had religious significance in Hittite culture.

Throughout history, the name Arinna has been associated with several notable figures. In the 14th century BCE, Arinna was the name of a Hittite queen, wife of King Suppiluliuma I. Her name is recorded on various inscriptions and monument carvings from the Hittite capital of Hattusa.

Another famous bearer of the name was Arinna of Mysia, a 4th-century BCE Greek philosopher and mathematician from the ancient region of Mysia, located in present-day Turkey. She is credited with contributing to the development of early mathematical concepts and was a student of the renowned philosopher Plato.

In the 16th century, Arinna was the name of a German-born noblewoman, Arinna von Oldenburg (1501-1575), who was the wife of Count Johann VII of Oldenburg. She played a significant role in the political and cultural affairs of the region during her lifetime.

Moving forward in time, the name Arinna gained popularity in the 19th century among Russian nobility. One notable figure was Arinna Pavlovna Rachmaninoff (1821-1896), the mother of the famous Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff.

More recently, in the 20th century, Arinna was the name of an Italian painter and sculptor, Arinna Ferro (1920-2004), known for her abstract works and contributions to the post-war Italian art scene.

While the name Arinna is not as common today as it once was, it remains a distinctive and historically rich name with origins dating back to the ancient Hittite civilization.