Thorn bush or place of thorns
Derived from the Basque word 'arantza', meaning thorn, it refers to the Sanctuary of Arantzazu in Gipuzkoa, Spain. According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared in a thorn bush to a shepherd there in the 15th century. It is a popular name in the Basque Country and gained international recognition through sports.
Less common today
Arantxa isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #2,422 in 2015.
Former world No. 1 tennis player and four-time Grand Slam champion
Dutch professional tennis player
Spanish professional tennis player
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
