NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Arnela

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "bright light" or "shining".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Arnela is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Arnela popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4684, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2014, with 4 births.

This profile covers 4 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2014 to 2014. 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.

Arnela is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 4 living people in the UK are called Arnela. 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 2015 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Arnela ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales in 2014, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2014, when 4 girls were registered as Arnela.
  • About 4 living people in the UK are estimated to have Arnela as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4684

2014

Births in 2014

4

Latest year

Peak year

2014

4 births

Estimated living

4

2026

Meaning

What does Arnela mean?

The given name Arnela has its roots in the Slavic languages, particularly in the Bosnian and Croatian cultures. It is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century.

The name Arnela is a derivative of the Germanic name Arnold, which itself is a combination of the Old German elements "arn" meaning "eagle" and "wald" meaning "ruler" or "power." The name Arnold was introduced to the Slavic regions during the medieval period, likely through cultural and linguistic exchanges.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Arnela can be found in the 14th-century Bosnian manuscript known as the "Hvalov Zbornik" (Codex of Hval), which contains various religious and historical texts from the region. In this manuscript, Arnela is mentioned as the name of a noblewoman from a prominent Bosnian family.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Arnela. One of the most renowned was Arnela Terzić (1445-1502), a Bosnian poetess and writer who was celebrated for her contributions to the literary arts during the Renaissance period. Her collection of love poems and sonnets, titled "Ljepota Večnosti" (The Beauty of Eternity), is considered a masterpiece of its time.

Another historical figure of note was Arnela Kovačević (1535-1611), a Croatian physician and scholar who made significant contributions to the field of medicine and herbalism. Her treatise on medicinal plants, "Zbirka Ljekovitog Bilja" (Collection of Medicinal Herbs), was widely influential in the region and helped advance the understanding of natural remedies.

In the 18th century, Arnela Nikšić (1712-1798) was a prominent Bosnian painter known for her vibrant and detailed depictions of landscapes and religious scenes. Her works adorned numerous churches and monasteries throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, and her paintings are considered treasures of the region's cultural heritage.

During the 19th century, Arnela Šamić (1821-1887) was a renowned Bosnian educator and advocate for women's rights. She established several schools for girls in her hometown of Sarajevo and fought tirelessly to promote access to education for women in a time when such opportunities were limited.

In more recent times, Arnela Omanović (1935-2018) was a celebrated Bosnian actress who graced both stage and screen with her talent and versatility. She is remembered for her powerful performances in various theater productions and films, earning numerous accolades and awards throughout her illustrious career.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Arnela by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Arnela 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
2010s #4684 4 1

Related

Names similar to Arnela

FAQ

Arnela: questions and answers

How popular is the name Arnela in the UK right now?

In 2014, Arnela was ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Arnela most popular?

The peak year on record was 2014, with 4 babies registered as Arnela in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Arnela?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "bright light" or "shining".

How many people are called Arnela in the UK?

A total of 4 babies have been registered as Arnela 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.