Holding steady.
Popularity of Arcenia since 1919
Babies named Arcenia per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1923, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Arcenia's real moment was 1933.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 7 |
| 1920s | 30 |
| 1930s | 31 |
| 1940s | 27 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 11 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 5 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Arcenia is a rare American name that first appeared in Social Security records in 1919. It reached its peak usage in 1933, with fewer than five births per year in most decades since. The name has remained exceedingly uncommon, with no recorded births in many recent years. Its trajectory has been stable at a very low level, never entering the top 1000. While top-state data is unavailable due to its rarity, the name likely saw scattered use across the country during its modest peak in the 1930s. Arcenia's origin is unclear; it may have been a creative respelling of Arcadia or a feminine form of Arsenio, both of which lend a classical feel. Despite its obscurity, the name carries a melodic, three-syllable rhythm that fits with other vintage feminine names of its era.
Arcenia likely arose in early 20th-century America as a variant of Arcadia, a place name from Greek mythology, or as a feminine form of Arsenio, from Greek arsenios 'masculine, virile'. Its usage peaked in the 1930s but remained rare.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Arcy, Sena
Sibling names for Arcenia
Names that share Arcenia's style, for a brother or sister.
