The Meaning of the Name Arnie
Arnie is a masculine given name, derived from the Germanic name Arnold. The name Arnold is composed of two elements: “arn” meaning eagle and “wald” meaning rule or power. Thus, the name Arnie can be interpreted to mean “eagle ruler” or “powerful eagle”.
History of the Name Arnie
The name Arnie has been in use since at least the Middle Ages. It was popularized by the Normans who brought it to England after their conquest of 1066. The Normans were descendants of Vikings who had settled in northern France and adopted French culture and language. The Norman form of the name was Arnald, which eventually became Arnold in English.
The popularity of the name Arnie increased during the 19th century when it was used as a nickname for Arnold. It was also used as a pet form of other names such as Aaron, Ernest, and Bernard. In recent years, it has become more popular as an independent given name.
Famous People Named Arnie
There are many famous people named Arnie, including:
- Arnold Schwarzenegger – actor and former Governor of California
- Arnold Palmer – professional golfer
- Arnold Rothstein – American gangster
- Arnold Bennett – English novelist
- Arnold Toynbee – British historian
Popularity of the Name Arnie
The name Arnie is not particularly common in the United States. According to Social Security Administration data, it ranked 1,845th in popularity for boys born in 2019. However, it is more popular in other countries such as Germany and Austria where it ranks within the top 100 names.
