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Arantza
Pronounced ah-RAHN-tsah /ɑˈrɑn.tsɑ/High
Meaning: Thornbush; short form of Arantzazu, the Basque shrine where the Virgin Mary appeared on a thornbush, from arantza, 'thorn'High
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Arantza is the Basque word for 'thorn' and the everyday short form of Arantzazu, the great Marian sanctuary in Gipuzkoa where tradition places a fifteenth-century apparition of the Virgin on a thornbush. Names honoring local Madonnas — Arantzazu, Ainhoa, Begoña — are a signature of Basque naming.
Like other Basque names, Arantza spread openly after restrictions on regional names ended in post-Franco Spain, and Spanish speakers adopted it as Arancha or Arantxa — tennis champion Arantxa Sánchez Vicario made that form internationally famous. In the U.S. the tz-spelling is a rare, proud heritage marker.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Arantza mean?
Arantza means 'thorn' in Basque and serves as the short form of Arantzazu, the shrine where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared on a thornbush.
How do you pronounce Arantza?
It's said ah-RAHN-tsah /ɑˈrɑn.tsɑ/ — three syllables, stress on the second.
Is Arantza a boy or girl name?
Arantza is a girl's name.
How popular is Arantza?
Arantza is a rare name in the U.S., used mostly by families with Basque or Mexican roots, where the name also thrives.