Archibald

Archibald - A very unique male name

Archibald appeared on the charts for the first time in 1912 on position #645. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Archibald and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Archibald? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Archibald. The baby boy name Archibald was given to 129 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1156 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 11,367 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Archibald peaked in popularity 114 years ago in 1912 on position 645.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Archibald, 1-5?

Archibald is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Archibald is currently topping the baby name charts in Wisconsin at position #621 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,417.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Archibald is where you live.

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Archibald origin and meaning

Germanic via Norman French and Scots

From Germanic ercan, 'genuine, precious,' + bald, 'bold' — 'truly bold'

Archibald is a Germanic name that travelled through Norman French into Scotland, where clan chiefs and earls carried it for centuries. In the US it was always rare — its data is scattered across just 32 years — but 2025 was its biggest year, part of the revival of grandad names powered by its nickname Archie. The full form is deliberately formal; almost every Archibald lives as an Archie.

Attested etymology

Archibald is a 9 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Archibald, pop culture references for the name Archibald and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Archibald

We've found the following names that sound similar to Archibald, sorted by popularity.

Archivaldo / Arshiv / Archibaldo /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Archibald

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Archibald a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Archibald?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

AHR-chuh-bawld · /ˈɑrtʃəbɔːld/

Around the world

• Archibald (German) — Used as-is in German as well, from the same medieval name

Spellings and nicknames

Nicknames: ArchieArchBaldy

Famous bearers

• Archibald MacLeish — Poet and Librarian of Congress, three-time Pulitzer Prize winner (1892–1982) Historical

Style

ClassicVintage revivalRoyal

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Archibald for a distinguished, old-world full name that delivers the fashionable nickname Archie.

Worth knowing

• The full form is heavy for a small child — expect Archie to take over completely, and note the royal Archie is a different name form (Archie, not Archibald)