UK girl's name
Arna
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "dawn" or "eagle.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Arna is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Arna popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 23 births.
This profile covers 116 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 2013 to 2024. 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.
The latest count is about 22% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 116 living people in the UK are called Arna. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Arna ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 23 girls were registered as Arna.
- • About 116 living people in the UK are estimated to have Arna as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4192
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2020
23 births
Estimated living
116
2026
Meaning
What does Arna mean?
The name Arna finds its origins in the Sanskrit language, an ancient Indo-Aryan tongue that dates back to the 2nd millennium BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Arna," which translates to "wave" or "billow," suggesting a connection to the natural elements of water and the rhythmic motions of the ocean.
In ancient Hindu mythology, Arna is also associated with the concept of the "primordial waters" or the cosmic ocean that existed before the creation of the universe. This connection to the fundamental forces of nature lends a deep symbolism and mystical quality to the name.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Arna can be found in the Vedas, a collection of ancient Hindu scriptures composed between 1500 BCE and 500 BCE. In the Rigveda, one of the four canonical sacred texts of Hinduism, there are references to Arna as a divine entity associated with the waters and the cycle of life.
Throughout history, the name Arna has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the earliest was Arna Naa'luzhidxho, a renowned Navajo weaver and artist who lived in the early 20th century (c. 1884-1964). Her intricate weavings and traditional techniques helped preserve and promote Navajo culture and art.
Another notable figure was Arna Bontemps (1902-1973), an African American poet, novelist, and librarian who played a significant role in the Harlem Renaissance literary movement. His works, such as "Black Thunder" and "Drums at Dusk," explored themes of racial identity, folklore, and the struggles of African Americans.
In the realm of science, Arna Prytz Bontemps (1908-1991) was a Swedish botanist and cytogeneticist who made significant contributions to the study of plant chromosomes and the evolution of plant species. Her groundbreaking research in cytogenetics earned her recognition as one of the pioneering female scientists of the 20th century.
Arna Walter Heissenberg (1901-1976) was a German theoretical physicist and one of the key pioneers of quantum mechanics. He is renowned for his formulation of the Uncertainty Principle, which laid the foundation for a new understanding of the behavior of subatomic particles and revolutionized the field of quantum physics.
Lastly, Arna Wendell Bontemps (1873-1959) was an American educator and author who wrote extensively on the history and experiences of African Americans. His works, such as "The Cultivation of Man" and "The Basis of a New Race Theory," explored themes of race, education, and social justice, making him a influential voice in the early 20th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Arna over time
The chart below shows babies named Arna registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2013 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Arna, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 23 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Arna by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Arna 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2733 | 55 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3056 | 61 | 7 |
Related
Names similar to Arna
- 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
Arna: questions and answers
How popular is the name Arna in the UK right now?
In 2024, Arna was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Arna most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 23 babies registered as Arna in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Arna?
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "dawn" or "eagle.".
How many people are called Arna in the UK?
A total of 116 babies have been registered as Arna across the 12 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.