Arnold
Boy name · #1477 in 2025 · Uniqueness 57/100
Arnold is currently the #1477 boy name in the United States — 120 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1657, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 15,000 boys born in 2025 was named Arnold.
Babies named Arnold per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Arnold first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 37 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1924, when 2,014 boys were named Arnold — good for #95 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Arnold against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Arnold in class?
Arnold scores 57 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Arnold is most common
Geography matters for names, and Arnold is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Arnolds were TX (18), CA (12), OH (9), MN (8), FL (7). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Arnold
Statistically, parents drawn to Arnold tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Harold, Alfred, Bernard, Lloyd, and Gerald.
HaroldAlfredBernardLloydGeraldEdmundHowardClifford
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Arnold | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 120 | #1477 |
| 2024 | 99 | #1685 |
| 2023 | 105 | #1640 |
| 2022 | 118 | #1523 |
| 2021 | 112 | #1554 |
| 2020 | 88 | #1743 |
| 2019 | 115 | #1485 |
| 2018 | 103 | #1593 |
| 2017 | 120 | #1433 |
| 2016 | 98 | #1628 |
| 2015 | 95 | #1657 |
| 2014 | 81 | #1828 |
| 2013 | 97 | #1588 |
| 2012 | 88 | #1711 |
| 2011 | 113 | #1448 |
| 2010 | 90 | #1697 |
| 2009 | 125 | #1367 |
| 2008 | 127 | #1348 |
| 2007 | 137 | #1277 |
| 2006 | 133 | #1255 |
| 2005 | 153 | #1076 |
| 2004 | 191 | #901 |
| 2003 | 213 | #822 |
| 2002 | 180 | #898 |
| 2001 | 219 | #776 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Arnold a popular boy name?
Arnold ranked #1477 among boys in 2025 with 120 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1657.
When was the name Arnold most popular?
Arnold peaked in 1924, when 2,014 American boys received the name (ranked #95 that year). Since 1924 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Arnold?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 15,000 newborn American boys was named Arnold. It scores 57/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.