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

Popularity of Arnold by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Arnold is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Arnold being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 105 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Arnold.

The history of the first name Arnold

The name Arnold has Germanic origins and is derived from the Old German words "arn" meaning eagle and "wald" meaning ruler or power. It essentially translates to "the ruler of the eagles" or "powerful as an eagle". The name can be traced back to the 7th century and was popular among the Franks and other Germanic tribes.

In the 8th century, the name appears in the Historical Records of the Franks, which mentions an Arnold serving as a military commander under Charlemagne. It also appears in the Annals of Fulda, a medieval chronicle written by monks in the 9th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is Arnold of Soissons, a French nobleman who lived from around 1040 to 1106. He was a prominent figure during the First Crusade and played a key role in the successful siege of Antioch in 1098.

Another notable bearer of the name was Arnold of Brescia, an Italian scholar and religious reformer who lived from around 1090 to 1155. He was a vocal critic of the wealth and corruption of the Catholic Church and was eventually executed for his beliefs.

In the 12th century, Arnold Amalricus was a prominent French theologian and philosopher. He taught at the University of Paris and was known for his controversial views on the nature of the Trinity.

During the 13th century, Arnold Fitz Thedmar was an English chronicler and monk who wrote extensively about the history of London and the reign of King John.

In the 15th century, Arnold of Tongres was a Dutch scholar and humanist who was a pioneer in the study of classical literature and played a significant role in the Northern Renaissance.

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

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

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