Arcola is a unique and uncommon given name of Italian origin. It is derived from the town of Arcola in Liguria, Italy, which was founded by the ancient Romans. The name Arcola has been used historically as both a given name and a surname.
The exact meaning of the name Arcola is not clear, but it is believed to be associated with the Latin word "arcula," which means "small arch" or "little door." This could possibly refer to an archway or gateway that was located in the town when it was founded.
In literature, the name Arcola has been used notably by William Shakespeare in his play "The Tempest." In this work, Arcola is a character who is described as being of noble birth and having great courage. This usage may have contributed to the popularity of the name in some English-speaking countries.
Overall, Arcola is an unusual and distinctive given name that has historical ties to Italy and ancient Roman culture. Its meaning is somewhat unclear but is believed to be related to arches or gateways. Despite its rarity, it has been used throughout history and has appeared in notable works of literature.
The name Arcola has seen a varied number of births over the years in the United States. Between 1903 and 1958, there were a total of 324 babies named Arcola. The earliest year recorded with at least one birth was 1903, with eight newborns being named Arcola that year.
The most popular years for the name Arcola were during the late 1910s and early 1920s. In 1913, there were 13 births, which remained the highest number of births in a single year until 1918 when 16 babies were named Arcola. This peak continued into the next decade, with 14 births in 1927.
However, the name's popularity fluctuated greatly over time. There were years with as few as five births (in 1937, 1947, and 1950), and some decades had no recorded births of Arcola at all, such as the 1960s to the 2000s.
Despite these fluctuations, the name Arcola has a notable history in the United States, with its peak popularity occurring nearly a century ago.