Arvell
A boy's name of French origin with 396 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Alternative spelling of arval.
Arvell is a boy's baby name of French origin, a variant of Arvel or Arvell, possibly from the Old French arvel related to a funeral feast, or from Welsh arfol meaning 'weeping.' As a given name it functions as a dignified surname name.
Arvell has the quiet, slightly formal quality of a Southern American family surname passed forward as a given name. Rare and genuinely distinctive, it suits parents who want a name with deep roots and an unusual sound that stands apart from more familiar choices.
EtymologyShow more
Though Arvell dates back to 1914 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The French classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
With only 396 recorded births, Arvell has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Arvell has 56+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1914.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | #12236 | — |
| 2000s | 5 | #11609 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 13 | #7241 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 16 | #6988 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 32 | #4857 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 50 | #3615 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 63 | #3039 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 52 | #3133 | — |
| 1930s | 57 | #3042 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 74 | #3073 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 29 | #3063 | — |
The Story of Arvell
A Silent Generation name
Peaking in 1929, Arvell is an elegant vintage name. Boys named Arvell are most likely born between 1919 and 1939.
How rare is Arvell?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Arvell is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1914, peaked in the 1920s with 74 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Arvell by the numbers
- Would fill 8 school buses
- Meeting one Arvell per day would take 1.1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(56 years, 1914–2015)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5 | #12236 |
| 2005 | 5 | #11609 |
| 1996 | 6 | #8027 |
| 1990 | 7 | #6455 |
| 1989 | 6 | #7007 |
| 1988 | 5 | #7357 |
| 1985 | 5 | #6599 |
| 1978 | 7 | #4590 |
| 1977 | 5 | #5901 |
| 1976 | 6 | #4973 |
| 1975 | 5 | #5525 |
| 1970 | 9 | #3298 |
| 1968 | 7 | #3388 |
| 1967 | 9 | #2779 |
| 1965 | 5 | #3954 |
| 1964 | 5 | #4073 |
| 1963 | 6 | #3668 |
| 1962 | 7 | #3321 |
| 1961 | 6 | #3670 |
| 1960 | 5 | #4068 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arvell a boy's or girl's name?
When was Arvell most popular?
How popular is the name Arvell?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1914–2015