According to Marcellinus, they were named after their founder emperor Arcadius (Marcellinus, 394, according to Janin, 1964, p. 217 followed by Pseudo-Codinus). According to Chronicon Paschale, they were named after Arcadius' daughter Arcadia (with their Latin name being feminine plural, Arcadianae baths). They were situated in Region I (near the Great Palace).
The Baths of Arcadianae were embellished by Justinian in the 6th century.