Archibald \a-rchiba-ld, ar-chi-bald\ as a boy's name is of Old French and Old German origin, and the meaning of Archibald is "genuine, bold, brave". Brought to Britain with the Norman Conquest, and popular largely in Scotland, where it is used as the English version of Gaelic Gilleasbaig. Poet Archibald MacLeish. Archie, Archy and Baldie are pet forms.

Archibald has 13 variant forms: Arch, Archaimbaud, Archambault, Archer, Archibaldo, Archibold, Archie, Archimbald, Archimbaldo, Archy, Arquibaldo, Arquimbaldo and Baldie.