Arnold

English from German

"ruler, strong as an eagle"

Arnold Origin and Meaning

The name Arnold is a boy's name of English origin meaning "ruler, strong as an eagle".

Strange as it may now seem, the venerable St. Arnold was a Greek by birth, a musician who became a member of the court of Charlemagne. The name is said to have been introduced into Britain by the Normans in the form Arnaud.

Despite such reputable namesakes as composer Arnold Schoenberg, novelist Arnold Bennett and historian Arnold Toynbee, not to mention the former Governator, Arnold's image has been diminished by some nerdy fictional characters, though he is still a genuine classic who might come back along with Arthur and Albert.

We have heard stirrings of fashionable baby Arnolds populating nurseries alongside those named Wilbur and Barney.

Arnold Rank in US Top 1000

# 900 in the US

Arnold Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 1142 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Arnold

• 1142 Nameberry 2025
• 681 Unique 2024
• 712 England 2024

20 Names Similar to Arnold

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Arnold.

• Reginald
• Howard
• Roger
• Norman
• Clifford
• Harold
• Seymour
• Gerald
• Nigel
• Herbert
• Vernon
• Roy
• Bernard
• Frederik
• Gordon
• Melvin
• Rudolph
• Milton
• Moses
• Gilbert

Famous People Named Arnold

• Saint Arnold of Arnoldsweiler 8th century Greek,German harpist
• Saint Arnold of Soissons Belgian patron of brewers
• Saint Arnold Janssen German,Dutch priest
• Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger Austrian,American bodybuilder, actor and politician; 38th Governor of California
• Arnold Daniel Palmer American golfer
• Arnold Johannes Wilhelm Sommerfeld theoretical physicist
• Arnold Franz Walter Schoenberg Austrian composer
• Arnold Houbraken Dutch painter
• Arnold Edward Trevor Bax English composer and poet
• Arnold Rothstein American gangster
• Arnold Harris Mathew English bishop and author
• Arnold Joseph Toynbee English historian
• (Enoch) Arnold Bennett English novelist
• Benedict Arnold American general
• Arnold Martin "Arnie" Kavalee (b.2017) son of Tiffiny Hall

The name Arnold in Pop Culture

• Arnold Phillip Shortman main character on animated series "Hey Arnold!"
• Arnold Horshack character on TV's "Welcome Back, Kotter"
• Arnold McKinley a character on animated TV series Fireman Sam
• Arnold a character in film Spy Kids 3,D: Game Over
• Arnold dog on TV's Entourage
• Arnold John Flass a character in the Batman series
• Arnold Jackson a character on TV's Diff'rent Strokes
• Arnold Perlstein a character in The Magic School Bus series
• Arnold Rimmer a character on TV's Red Dwarf
• Arnold Toht a character in film Raiders of the Lost Ark
• Arnold Vinick a character in the TV's The West Wing
• Dr. Arnold Wayne Betty Draper's psychiatrist on TV's Mad Men
• Dr. Arnold Rosen another character on TV's Mad Men
• Arnold Weber a character on TV's "Westworld"
• Arnold Wesker aka Ventriloquist character in the DC Comics Universe
• Arnold von Winkelried a hero in Swiss folklore
• Arnold Ziffel pig on TV's Green Acres
• Arnold Teague a character in film Solar Crisis
• Arnold character on Australian TV series Please Like Me

International Variations of the name Arnold

• Arni Icelandic
• Arnauld French
• Arnaut French
• Arnljot Norwegian
• Ardál Irish Gaelic
• Arneld Norwegian
• Arnd German
• Arnoldo Italian
• Arnau Catalan
• Arne Scandinavian
• Arno German
• Arnaud French
• Arend Dutch
• Arnaldo Portuguese