A 1920s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Armel since 1915
Babies named Armel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2023, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Armel's real moment was 1922.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 24 |
| 1930s | 5 |
| 1940s | 0 |
| 1950s | 9 |
| 1960s | 10 |
| 1970s | 15 |
| 1980s | 9 |
| 1990s | 7 |
| 2000s | 56 |
| 2010s | 74 |
| 2020s | 66 |
Meaning & origin
Armel is a distinctly rare and historically rooted Breton name, combining 'bear' and 'prince' to suggest strength and leadership. In the United States, the name first appeared in records in 1915 and reached its modest peak in 1922. After decades of obscurity, it has been rising again since 1998, though it remains uncommon: in the latest year, it ranked 6,446 with approximately 1 in 131,390 boys receiving the name. The trajectory points to a quiet revival, likely driven by parents seeking names with Celtic and French heritage. With no top states yet, Armel's usage is scattered, making it a distinctive choice that carries the legacy of a Breton saint.
Armel derives from the Old Breton elements 'arz' (bear) and 'mael' (prince or chief), thus meaning 'bear-prince.' The name is associated with the 6th-century Welsh-born saint who evangelized in Brittany, known as Saint Armel (or Armagillus). His cult spread in France, giving the name a lasting but modest presence in Breton and French naming traditions. Despite its early medieval roots, Armel has never been widespread, though it saw a small peak in the 1920s.
“Armel” around the world
Where Armel lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
100
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Arm, Armi
Variants: Armelle, Armelite
Sibling names for Armel
Names that share Armel's style, for a brother or sister.
