UK girl's name
Armelle
A feminine French name derived from the Breton name Armel, meaning "bear leader".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Armelle is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Armelle popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5556, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2009 to 2009. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Armelle is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Armelle. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Armelle ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales in 2009, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 3 girls were registered as Armelle.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Armelle as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5556
2009
Births in 2009
3
Latest year
Peak year
2009
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Armelle mean?
The name Armelle originated from the Breton language, which is a Celtic language spoken in Brittany, a cultural region located in the northwest of France. The name's roots can be traced back to the early medieval period, around the 5th to 7th centuries.
Armelle is derived from the Breton words "armel" or "arzhell," which means "bear." In some cases, it is also believed to be related to the Latin word "humilis," meaning "humble" or "lowly." The name was likely given to children with the intention of instilling humility or a connection with nature and strength.
The earliest recorded use of the name Armelle can be found in the Cartulaire de Redon, a medieval cartulary (a collection of charters and records) from the Redon Abbey in Brittany, dating back to the 9th century. This document contains several entries featuring individuals with the name Armelle, suggesting its widespread use in the region during that time.
One of the most notable historical figures bearing the name Armelle was Armelle de Clisson (born around 1300), a Breton noblewoman and the wife of Olivier V de Clisson, a prominent military leader during the Hundred Years' War. Another figure from history was Armelle de Bretagne (c. 1353-1384), a Breton princess and the daughter of John IV, Duke of Brittany.
In religious texts, the name Armelle is associated with Saint Armelle (c. 548-628), also known as Saint Armelle of Brittany. She was a Breton princess who renounced her noble status to become a nun and later founded the Monastery of Ploërmel in Brittany.
Other notable individuals with the name Armelle include Armelle Nicolas (1927-2021), a French author and journalist, and Armelle Deutsch (born 1959), a French singer and actress. Additionally, Armelle Leroy (born 1960) is a French politician and member of the National Assembly.
Throughout history, the name Armelle has maintained a strong connection to its Breton roots, symbolizing humility, nature, and strength. While its popularity may have fluctuated over time, it remains an integral part of the cultural heritage of the Brittany region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Armelle by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Armelle was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #5556 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Armelle
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Armelle: questions and answers
How popular is the name Armelle in the UK right now?
In 2009, Armelle was ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Armelle most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 3 babies registered as Armelle in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Armelle?
A feminine French name derived from the Breton name Armel, meaning "bear leader".
How many people are called Armelle in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Armelle across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.