Find out how popular the first name Arnell has been for the last 48 years (from 1975 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Arnell by gender

Based on the last 48 years of data, Arnell is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 89% of people named Arnell being male.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Arnell.

The history of the first name Arnell

The name Arnell is believed to have originated from the Old Norse language, which was spoken by the Germanic peoples who inhabited Scandinavia and parts of northern Europe during the Viking Age, roughly between the 8th and 11th centuries. It is thought to be a combination of the Old Norse elements "arn," meaning eagle, and "ell," meaning strength or power.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arnell can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of historical narratives and legends that date back to the 13th century. In these texts, the name appears in various spellings, such as "Arnell," "Arnill," and "Arnaldr."

During the Middle Ages, the name Arnell was predominantly used in Scandinavia and the regions influenced by Norse culture, such as parts of modern-day Scotland, Ireland, and northern England. It was particularly popular among the Viking settlers who established communities in these areas.

One notable historical figure who bore the name Arnell was Arnell Tordsson, a Norwegian chieftain and landowner who lived in the late 10th century. He is mentioned in the Orkneyinga Saga, a historical narrative that details the Norse colonization of the Orkney Islands.

Another individual of note was Arnell Þorkelsson, an Icelandic skald (poet) and lawspeaker who lived in the 11th century. He is recorded in the Landnámabók, an Icelandic manuscript that chronicles the settlement of Iceland by Norse settlers in the 9th and 10th centuries.

In the 12th century, an Arnell Arnmodsson is mentioned in the Hákonar Saga Herðibreiðs, a saga about the Norwegian king Håkon Herdebrei. Arnell Arnmodsson was a chieftain and landowner from western Norway.

The name Arnell also appears in medieval English records, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, where an individual named Arnell is listed as a landowner in Yorkshire.

During the Viking Age and the Middle Ages, the name Arnell was primarily associated with individuals of Scandinavian or Norse descent, reflecting the cultural and linguistic roots of the name. As the name spread beyond its original geographical boundaries, it evolved into various spellings and variations, some of which are still in use today.

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 Arnell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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