Arnel
eagle ruler or eagle power (Germanic)
Arnel is a other / spanish boy name in the Philippines. In the civil registry as of May 2021 it is number 25, with 178,916 records. It has 2 syllables.
Origin and meaning
eagle ruler or eagle power (Germanic)
Derived as a variant of Arnold through Romance language adaptations, Arnel gained massive popularity in the Philippines in the post-WWII era. It is widely recognized across all socio-economic strata and ranks among the most common Filipino male names.
Arnel is commonly considered a derivative or variant of the Germanic name Arnold (meaning 'eagle power' or 'eagle ruler'), possibly influenced by French or Catalan forms. In the Philippines, it emerged as a very popular male given name during the mid-to-late 20th century.
Name character
In the Philippines
Frequently shortened to nicknames like 'Nel', 'Ar', or 'Noli'. It is commonly used as a standalone first name but also appears in compound combinations.
Related forms
- Arnaldo Spanish
- Arnold German
Would your family give Arnel?
Mark it if your family would give this first name. The count is for 2026 on this site. It is not the civil registry, and it is not babies registered in 2024. One browser can choose a name once in the year.
No family on this site has marked Arnel for 2026 yet.
Arnel with common surname pairs
Each pair is a mother's maiden surname plus a father's surname. The number is the sound-fit score for this first name.
Related boy names
About the name Arnel
How do I use Arnel with two Filipino surnames?
Arnel is the given name. The full name is Arnel + mother's maiden surname + father's surname. Score a pair from a combination page or the homepage search.
Is Arnel a common boy name in the Philippines?
In the civil registry as of May 2021, Arnel is number 25, with 178,916 records. That is not the 2024 birth list, and it does not say the name is a better choice. How it sounds with both family surnames is a separate score.