Archibald is a distinctive boys' name in United States, ranking #7733 in 2008 with 10 recorded births. This places Archibald in the bottom 47% of ranked US boys' names for the year. Its actual usage is classified as Rare. The name reached its all-time peak in 2025 with 184 births ranking #1145. In 2008, approximately 1 in every 203,995 boys born was named Archibald. RISING Recent data shows the name is currently rising.
Archibald is an old Germanic name with a bold, stately feel. It is usually explained as meaning something like "genuinely bold" or "precious and bold".
The name has long been used in Scotland and the wider British Isles, often in noble and family contexts. Although the full form is formal and historic, it survives warmly through the nickname Archie.