Holding steady, #6,143 for boys today.
Popularity of Arnie since 1887
Babies named Arnie per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1960, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Arnie's real moment was 1910.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 | 5 |
| 1890s | 0 | 7 |
| 1900s | 17 | 34 |
| 1910s | 66 | 212 |
| 1920s | 69 | 193 |
| 1930s | 50 | 215 |
| 1940s | 12 | 251 |
| 1950s | 16 | 331 |
| 1960s | 0 | 378 |
| 1970s | 0 | 154 |
| 1980s | 0 | 99 |
| 1990s | 0 | 69 |
| 2000s | 0 | 44 |
| 2010s | 0 | 39 |
| 2020s | 0 | 57 |
Meaning & origin
Arnie is a classic nickname turned given name, most closely associated with the Germanic name Arnold. Records show it first appeared in the United States in 1887, with its peak popularity occurring in 1910. Despite its early 20th-century spike, its trajectory has remained stable in recent years, never reaching top-tier fame. One in every 122,005 boys received the name in 2025, reflecting its continued use as a straightforward, approachable choice. Its origins lie in the Germanic elements 'arn' and 'wald', meaning 'eagle power' or 'ruler', and it has maintained a steady, modest presence as a first name without ever dominating the charts.
Arnie is a diminutive of Arnold, which derives from the Germanic elements 'arn' (eagle) and 'wald' (power, rule). The name Arnold was brought to England by the Normans and became common in the Middle Ages. Arnie emerged as a familiar short form, particularly in English-speaking countries.
Sibling names for Arnie
Names that share Arnie's style, for a brother or sister.
