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Archibald

♂ Boy

Pronounced AR-chih-bald /ˈɑːr.tʃɪ.bɔːld/High

Meaning: Genuinely bold; truly brave; from Germanic Ercanbeald (ercan: genuine, sincere + beald: bold, brave)High

In 30 seconds: A Germanic name meaning 'genuinely bold' or 'truly brave,' particularly associated with Scotland. Archibald was one of Scotland's most common names in the medieval period, and Archie remains a beloved nickname.
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Origin HighGermanic
MeaningGenuinely bold; truly brave; from Germanic Ercanbeald (ercan: genuine, sincere + beald: bold, brave)
U.S. rank (2024)#1174 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births176 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 3,800

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202418802024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Archibald is the anglicization of Germanic Ercanbeald, from ercan (genuine, sincere) and beald (bold, brave). It was particularly popular in medieval Scotland, where it was common among the Campbell and Douglas clans.

Archibald ranked #1174 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Prince Archie, son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, brought the Archie form of Archibald back to global attention in 2019 — and his name choice (the informal Archie rather than the formal Archibald) reflected the couple's more modern approach to royal naming.
Overall data confidence 87%
Behind the Name — Archibald — Germanic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ArchieArchie

Nicknames

ArchieArch

Famous Bearers

  • ★Prince Archie (2019–present)
    Son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (Duke and Duchess of Sussex), born in 2019. His parents chose the name Archie rather than the formal Archibald.

If you like Archibald…

Archibald
Reginald— Germanic -ald ending name with the same formal vintage Scottish character
Leonhard— Germanic -hard ending name with the same formal European quality
Bernhard— Germanic -hard ending name from the same noble naming tradition
Gotthard— Germanic -hard ending name with the same formal dignity

Frequently Asked

What does the name Archibald mean?

Archibald means 'genuinely bold' or 'truly brave,' from Germanic Ercanbeald (ercan: genuine + beald: bold).

How do you pronounce Archibald?

It's said AR-chih-bald — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Archibald a boy or girl name?

Archibald is used as a boys' name.

How popular is Archibald?

Archibald ranked #1174 for U.S. boys in 2024.