Boy · #132 in 2026

Arlo

Arlo is a unisex given name. Some sources state it to be of Old English origin, meaning "endless energy"; it was first used by Edmund Spenser, who "evidently invented" it, as the name of a hill where the gods debate in his poem The Faerie Queene.

Current Rank
#132
Peak Rank
#132 (2026)
Total Babies
27K
5-Yr Trend
+66%
1929
First Year
2026
Last Year
2023
Peak Year
#1981
Peak Rank
994
Total Count
21
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Arlo

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Arlo is a unisex given name. Some sources state it to be of Old English origin, meaning "endless energy"; it was first used by Edmund Spenser, who "evidently invented" it, as the name of a hill where the gods debate in his poem The Faerie Queene.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Arlo

Arlo first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1899, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 2,656 Arlos were born — ranking #132 that year. As of 2026, Arlo ranks #132 for baby boys with 2,656 births, rising sharply (+66% over the past five years). In total, more than 27K Arlos have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Arlo

Phonetically similar names — useful when Arlo is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Arlo

What does the name Arlo mean?
Arlo is a unisex given name. Some sources state it to be of Old English origin, meaning "endless energy"; it was first used by Edmund Spenser, who "evidently invented" it, as the name of a hill where the gods debate in his poem The Faerie Queene.
How popular is Arlo in 2026?
In 2026, Arlo ranks #132 among boys' names in the U.S., with 2,656 babies given the name that year.
When was Arlo most popular?
Arlo reached its peak popularity in 2026, ranking #132 that year with 2,656 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Arlo most popular?
Arlo has historically been most popular in Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Arlo.
Is Arlo a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Arlo is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Arlo?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Arlo include Freddie, Nicolas, Tyrone. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Arlo

Arlo is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1899 and has accumulated 27K births in the dataset. Arlo's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #132. Use the chart and map above to compare Arlo's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.