Arnulfo

Arnulfo is a masculine given name used in Spanish-speaking countries and, less commonly, in Portuguese-speaking contexts. It is derived from the medieval Germanic name Arnulf, from which several forms exist across Europe, including Arnolfo in Italian and Arnulfus in Latin.

The etymology of Arnulfo traces to the elements arn, meaning eagle, and wulf, meaning wolf. The combination has been interpreted as “eagle-wolf,” or more loosely as “strong as an eagle.” The name has appeared in historical records since medieval times and has remained in use primarily in Latin American countries and the Philippines, where Spanish influence is strong.

Notable people with the name include Arnulfo Arias Madrid, a Panamanian political figure who served as President of Panama on several occasions. The name also appears in the full name of Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez, the Salvadoran archbishop assassinated in 1980, commonly known as Óscar Romero; his middle name carries the Arnulfo form.

Variations and related names include Arnolfo (Italian) and Arnulph (English). The name remains relatively uncommon in contemporary usage, though it persists in family lineages and among older generations.