Names

Means “like the sun” in Armenian.

Alternate transcription of Armenian Արեւիկ (see Arevik).

Modern Greek form of Arete.

From Greek Ἀρέθουσα (Arethousa) meaning “quick water”, which is possibly derived from ἄρδω (ardo) meaning “water” and θοός (thoos) meaning “quick, nimble”. This was the name of a nymph in Greek mythology who was transformed into a fountain.

Greek form of Arethusa.

Possibly derived from Greek ἀρετή (arete) meaning “virtue”. This name was popularized in the 1960s by American singer Aretha Franklin (1942-).

Means “virtue” in Greek. In Greek mythology Arete was the personification of virtue and excellence.

Greek form of an Aramaic name, of unknown meaning. This was the name of four Nabataean kings of Petra in Jordan, including the first king (2nd century BC). King Aretas IV is mentioned briefly in the New Testament.

Perhaps from either Greek ἀρή (are) meaning “bane, ruin” or ἄρσην (arsen) meaning “male”. The name first appears as a-re in Mycenaean Greek writing. Ares was the bloodthirsty god of war in Greek mythology, a son of Zeus and Hera.

Dutch and German variant of Arnold. This is also the Dutch word for “eagle”.