UK boy's name
Arne
A masculine Scandinavian name meaning "eagle" or "eagle warrior".
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.
Arne is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Arne popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 10 births.
This profile covers 73 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 1997 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 72 living people in the UK are called Arne. 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
- • Arne ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 10 boys were registered as Arne.
- • About 72 living people in the UK are estimated to have Arne as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2023
10 births
Estimated living
72
2026
Meaning
What does Arne mean?
The name Arne has its origins in the Old Norse language and is derived from the word "arn," which means "eagle." It was a popular name among the Vikings and other Germanic tribes during the medieval period.
The name Arne first appeared in written records in the 9th century, when it was mentioned in the Icelandic sagas and other Norse literary works. It was often given to boys who were born under the sign of the eagle or who were believed to possess the qualities associated with this powerful bird, such as strength, courage, and keen eyesight.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Arne was Arne Arnesson, a Norwegian chieftain who lived in the 11th century. He was known for his bravery in battle and his loyalty to King Harald Hardrada.
Another notable figure with the name Arne was Arne Magnusson (1663-1730), an Icelandic scholar and antiquarian who made significant contributions to the study of Old Norse literature and culture. He was responsible for preserving many ancient Icelandic manuscripts and is considered one of the founders of modern Icelandic studies.
In the 18th century, the Swedish botanist and zoologist Arne Vilialmsson (1720-1783) became famous for his pioneering work in the classification of plants and animals. He was a student of Carl Linnaeus and helped to establish the binomial system of nomenclature that is still used in biology today.
The name Arne also gained prominence in the arts, with the Norwegian composer Arne Nordheim (1931-2010) becoming one of the leading figures in the development of electronic and experimental music in the 20th century. His works, which combined traditional folk elements with avant-garde techniques, earned him international acclaim and numerous awards.
In more recent times, the Swedish actor Arne Turesson (1943-2022) gained widespread recognition for his roles in films such as "The Emigrants" and "The New Land," for which he received critical acclaim and numerous awards.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Arne over time
The chart below shows babies named Arne registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 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 Arne, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Arne by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Arne 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 | #2870 | 35 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4236 | 11 | 3 |
| 2000s | #2978 | 20 | 5 |
| 1990s | #2642 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Arne
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Arne: questions and answers
How popular is the name Arne in the UK right now?
In 2024, Arne was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Arne most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 10 babies registered as Arne in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Arne?
A masculine Scandinavian name meaning "eagle" or "eagle warrior".
How many people are called Arne in the UK?
A total of 73 babies have been registered as Arne across the 15 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.