A
Masculine
Lithuanian
Meaning & History
Arnas is a Lithuanian masculine given name, originally a short form of names beginning with the element Arn, such as Arnoldas.
Etymology and Historical Context
The root of Arnas is the Germanic name Arnold, which is derived from the elements arn "eagle" and walt "power, authority", thus meaning "eagle power". The Normans brought Arnold to England, where it supplanted the Old English cognate Earnweald. After declining in the Middle Ages, Arnold was revived in the 19th century. Notable historical bearers of Arnold include an 8th-century musician in the court of Charlemagne and an 11th-century French bishop who is the patron saint of brewers, as well as Arnold of Brescia, a 12th-century monk hanged for rebelling against the Church. In modern times, it is famously associated with American golfer Arnold Palmer (1929–2016) and Austrian-American actor and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger (born 1947). In Lithuania, the variant Arnoldas has been adopted, and its diminutive forms, including Arnas, have gained popularity as independent given names.Notable Bearers
Several contemporary Lithuanian athletes bear the name Arnas, particularly in basketball:- Arnas Beručka (born 1997), professional basketball player
- Arnas Butkevičius (born 1992), professional basketball player
- Arnas Labuckas (born 1987), basketball player
- Arnas Velička (born 1999), professional basketball player
Distribution and Variants
Arnas is used primarily in Lithuania. Related forms in other languages include Arnau (Catalan), Arnold (Polish), Arnoud and Arnout (Dutch), as well as other short forms like Aart and Arend (Dutch and German).- Meaning: "Eagle power" (derived from Arnold)
- Origin: Adopted from Germanic through Lithuanian
- Type: Given name (diminutive turned independent)
- Usage: Predominantly Lithuanian
Related Names
Other Languages & Cultures
User Submissions
Sources: Wikipedia — Arnas (given name)