Given name
Arcelia
“from the altar of heaven”
Arcelia is a variant of Araceli. One Spanish interpretation is “from the altar of heaven.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Arcelia is a variant of Araceli. One Spanish interpretation is “from the altar of heaven.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Arcelia is a variant of Araceli. An origin associated with Araceli is Latin.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1908. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Arcelia through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,836
- 0 boys · 1,836 girls
- Most popular year
- 1975
- 46 babies
- 2025
- 20
- #5,935 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +56%
- Rising fast
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 20 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 5,935 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 56.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 46 in 1975. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,767 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Arcelia’s family of names
Arcelia has a related form in Araceli.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Arcelia, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Angelita
“messenger” · “a heavenly messenger; an angel”
>99% girls
Angelia
“messenger” · “a heavenly messenger; an angel”
>99% girls
Evelia
“giver of life; a lively woman”
>99% girls
Adria
“man from Hadria” · “a man from Hadria”
>99% girls
Alecia
“noble” · “kind”
>99% girls
Alethea
“one who is truthful”
>99% girls
Carmelita
“garden” · “of the fruitful orchard”
>99% girls
Alesia
“noble” · “kind”
>99% girls