At a Glance: Name: Arnica – Meaning: of disputed origin — competing theories point to a word for 'lamb' (perhaps referencing the plant's soft leaves), an Arabic word for leopardsbane, or a corruption of a Greek-derived word for 'sneezewort' – Origin: uncertain (Medieval Latin, candidate roots in Latin, Arabic, or Greek) – Pronunciation: AR-nih-kuh
Arnica is an uncertain (Medieval Latin, candidate roots in Latin, Arabic, or Greek) name meaning “of disputed origin — competing theories point to a word for 'lamb' (perhaps referencing the plant's soft leaves), an Arabic word for leopardsbane, or a corruption of a Greek-derived word for 'sneezewort'”. It appears in 2 of our baby name lists.
Meaning & Origin of Arnica
Meaning: Of disputed origin — competing theories point to a word for 'lamb' (perhaps referencing the plant's soft leaves), an Arabic word for leopardsbane, or a corruption of a Greek-derived word for 'sneezewort'.
Origin: uncertain (Medieval Latin, candidate roots in Latin, Arabic, or Greek).
A common claim: Arnica is said to come from Greek 'arnakis,' meaning lambskin. Actually: That's only one of several competing theories Wiktionary lists, alongside an Arabic word for leopardsbane and a corruption of 'ptarmica' (sneezewort) — none is confirmed as the definitive root.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Arnica
Phonetic: AR-nih-kuh IPA: /ˈɑːrnɪkə/
Popularity of Arnica
Arnica doesn’t appear in U.S. Social Security birth records, which include every name given to at least five babies in a year — so it’s rare in the U.S.
Lists That Include Arnica
- 200+ Botanical Baby Names for Nature-Loving Parents
- 175+ Herb and Garden Plant Baby Names for Earthy Parents
Similar Names
Hawthorn · Verbena · Vervain · Prunella · Calendula · Nettle
