What is the origin of Arceus' name?

Question

I know arc as in High

Comments

good question

Answer 1

Arceus's name may come from the words arch (highest) and deus, which is Latin for god. It may also have a root in the Latin word arcanus, which means secret; sacred mystery. Arceus's name may also come from the word archaic (ancient), which comes from the Greek arkhaios, and is derived from the ancient Greek word for "beginning", arkhē. It could have also come from the Latin word archetypus (original). Alternatively, Arceus's name can be seen as a portmanteau of Zeus, the most powerful of Greek gods and arch (highest). Another theory may be the combination of Zeus and Ra spelled backwards (Zeus being the king of gods and Ra being the solar god and creator, albeit in different pantheons). Those two qualities are shared by the Pokémon. Also, Arceus can also be derived from aureus (golden), possibly referring to its hooves and wheel. Nevertheless, Arceus's name origin and possible theories have led fans to believe that Arceus may be in fact a creator deity in Pokémon form. Arceus's name is pronounced with a soft "c" (or "s" sound) by the announcer in Pokémon Battle Revolution; in keeping with its probable name origin, it is pronounced with a hard "c" (or "k" sound) in television commercials and in Arceus and the Jewel of Life. Its name could also come from arc, as in round/ring, since it's surrounded by one.

-From Bulbapedia

Comments

Wrong Arceus is the false japanese god of pokemon

---

In alchemy, Archeus, or archaeus, is a term used generally to refer to the lowest and most dense aspect of the astral plane which presides over the growth and continuation of all living beings. I'm guessing that they just used a bit of Latin, changed it up, and tied it in a bit more. It's an etyomology SF, so there's no way to tell which one is absolutely right. Besides, it's just a game.

---

it also may have something to do with the greek word αρχαίο(archeo) which mean ancient.

---

Everything in the above answer is correct except this sentence:
>>It could have also come from the Latin word archetypus

The word "archetypus " is Greek. It's a compound word from "arche" (pronounced as "ar-hee", the emphasis goes to ar" and the letter "a" sounds like "apple", or "accident" e.t.c) and means "the first", the beginning", and the word "type" which means "model", or "(a) form (of something)"...

From "arhee" we have words like: arch, archenemy, archangel, archbishop, etc
From "type" we have words like: typewriter, prototype, typography, etc

https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=archetype
https://www.etymonline.com/word/archon
https://www.etymonline.com/word/type

Answer 2

I thought the name may have something to do with the word Arcane which means mysterious or unknown by many which would explain how basically no one outside of Sinnoh knows about Arceus and would give the Arc part of the name and maybe basing the end off of Deus which is the Latin word for god combining to make Arceus. (feel free to give better possibilities for the end of the name that could pair with arcane to make Arceus.)