Archibald
About Archibald
The short form Archie is so open and friendly --and very trendy in the British Isles--that some parents are now beginning to consider the formerly fusty Archibald as well. SNL comedians Amy Poehler and Will Arnett are one couple who made this breakthrough choice.
After being introduced to England in the twelfth century, Archibald became especially popular in Scotland, where it was in the Top 20 until the 1930s, but later took on a stuffy, aristocratic air. In the US, Archibald ranked as high as Number 279 in 1889.
A notable literary namesake is poet Archibald MacLeish, and Archibald was the full name of both comic-book star Archie Andrews and curmudgeon Archie Bunker. And of course suave Cary Grant was born Archibald Alexander Leach.
As of October 2026, Archibald ranked #1145 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #279 in 1890, Nameberry popularity #494.
Editor's take: The name Archibald is a boy's name of Spanish origin meaning "truly brave".
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #2,626 | 46 | 23.9 |
| 2015 | #2,489 | 50 | 26.1 |
| 2016 | #2,479 | 51 | 26.9 |
| 2017 | #2,570 | 49 | 26.5 |
| 2018 | #2,049 | 70 | 38.5 |
| 2019 | #2,044 | 71 | 39.6 |
| 2020 | #1,656 | 96 | 55.6 |
| 2021 | #1,654 | 100 | 57.2 |
| 2022 | #1,287 | 148 | 84.8 |
| 2023 | #1,291 | 148 | 86.5 |
| 2024 | #1,174 | 176 | 102.2 |
| 2025 | #1,145 | 184 | 107.7 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Archibald.
Famous Archibalds
- Archibald Primrose
5th Earl of Rosebery, 19th century British Prime Minister
- Archibald Wavell
1st Earl Wavell, British Viceroy and Governor,General of India
- Archibald MacLeish
American poet
- Archibald Campbell
1st Marquess of Argyll, 17th century Scottish leader
- Archibald Sinclair
1st Viscount Thurso, former leader of the British Liberal Party
- Archibald Douglas
6th Earl of Angus, courtier of King James V of Britain
- Archibald Tait
former Archbishop of Canterbury
- Archibald Hill
Nobel Prize,winning English physiologist
- Archibald Constable
Scottish publisher
- Archibald Alexander Leach
birth name of English,American actor Cary Grant
- Archibald Marshall Bell
American actor
- Archibald Campbell "Archie" MacLaren
English cricketer
- Archibald Butt
American political aide to President Taft, died in Titanic disaster
- (Archibald) Marshall Bell
American actor
- Archibald William Emerson Arnett
son of actors Will Arnett and Amy Poehler
- Archibald Lampman
Canadian romantic poet
- Col. Archibald Gracie IV
American soldier, writer, and survivor of the Titanic disaster
Archibald in pop culture
- Archibald "Archie" Andrews
from the Archie comics and the TV show Riverdale
- Archibald Beemis
character in the Samantha Parkington American Girl series
- Archibald Simpson
character on TV's "Degrassi"
- Archibald "Archie" Campbell
character in Louisa May Alcott's "Rose in Bloom"
- Archibald "Moonlight" Graham
character from the movie "Field of Dreams"
- Archibald "Archie" Forbes
character in G. A. Henty's, In Freedom's Cause
- Nate Archibald
character in the Gossip Girl series
Variations & nicknames
- ArchibaldSpanish
- ArhambaultFrench