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Arnold

Boy name · 3 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Arnold: 3 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 3 births in 2024.

Arnold is a name of Old German origin, formed from *arn* (eagle) and *wald* (ruler, power), meaning "eagle power" or "strong as an eagle." It arrived in Britain with the Normans and has been used in Scotland for centuries. The most famous bearer is undoubtedly Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Austrian-born bodybuilder, actor, and politician, whose surname shares the same root. In Scottish history, Sir Arnold of Blair was a 14th-century knight. The name also appears in the place-name Arnprior, a village in Stirlingshire, which likely shares the same eagle-root. A notable variant is the Scottish surname Arnott, which can derive from a diminutive of Arnold.