Arlen Boy

Popularity: #831 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AR-len /ˈɑːr.lən/

Origin: Irish; English

Meaning: Irish: pledge; English: noble

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Arlen has its roots in the Gaelic language, specifically deriving from the Irish name "Airlín," which is a diminutive form of "Airl" meaning "oath" or "pledge." This etymological path reflects a connection to themes of loyalty and commitment. The name likely transitioned into English through the influence of Irish immigrants and the broader Gaelic cultural presence in the British Isles, particularly during the 19th century when many Irish names began to be adopted into English-speaking contexts.

Historically, the name Arlen does not have significant references in major historical texts or figures, unlike some other names with biblical or royal connections. However, it has been associated with various cultural narratives in Irish folklore and literature, where names often carry symbolic weight.

The use of diminutive forms in Gaelic culture, such as "Airlín," illustrates a common practice of creating affectionate or familiar versions of names, which may have contributed to the name's endurance in various forms. Culturally, Arlen resonates with themes of heritage and identity, particularly within Irish communities.

Names that signify oaths or pledges often carry a sense of honor and integrity, which may explain the name's appeal in contexts valuing these traits. While not widely documented in historical texts, the name's Gaelic origins and its associations with loyalty and commitment contribute to its significance in cultural narratives, reflecting the broader themes of kinship and fidelity that are prevalent in many societies.

Famous people named Arlen

In this section, you will find notable people named Arlen. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Arlen who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Arlen who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Arlen Roth is a guitarist and songwriter best known for his work with artists like Bob Dylan and his instructional guitar videos.

Fictional characters named Arlen

The following list of fictional characters named Arlen is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Arlen is a fictional character from the novel series The Broken Earth by N.K. Jemisin. They are a pivotal figure in the story, representing the struggles of those with the ability to manipulate the earth in a world fraught with oppression.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Arlen, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

AldenEthanLiamOwenRonan

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Arlen. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

AldenArlinKieranDarrenCadenEamonGalenJalen

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Arlen was first seen in the United States in 1909.

Arlen has ranked as high as #802 nationally, which occurred in 1934, and has been most popular in California, Minnesota, Texas, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

In the past 5 years the name Arlen has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Arlen is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Arlen was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Arlen.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 129 107 22
2024 119 99 20
2023 123 101 22
2022 104 80 24
2021 105 88 17
2020 83 66 17
2019 92 68 24
2018 76 55 21
2017 79 66 13
2016 72 60 12
2015 81 59 22
2014 69 53 16
2013 53 42 11
2012 57 42 15
2011 64 41 23
2010 36 27 9
2009 56 34 22
2008 43 26 17
2007 62 31 31
2006 57 43 14
2005 66 47 19
2004 54 32 22
2003 48 27 21
2002 49 32 17
2001 46 23 23
2000 49 23 26
1999 38 28 10
1998 51 32 19
1997 55 38 17
1996 51 36 15
1995 52 41 11
1994 41 30 11
1993 47 31 16
1992 44 34 10
1991 27 27 0
1990 41 30 11
1989 52 39 13
1988 44 38 6
1987 38 38 0
1986 42 36 6
1985 58 51 7
1984 30 30 0
1983 32 32 0
1982 34 34 0
1981 48 39 9
1980 42 35 7
1979 26 26 0
1978 36 30 6
1977 39 34 5
1976 30 30 0
1975 31 31 0
1974 43 38 5
1973 23 23 0
1972 37 37 0
1971 50 50 0
1970 48 48 0
1969 43 43 0
1968 41 41 0
1967 52 52 0
1966 63 56 7
1965 51 51 0
1964 72 72 0
1963 60 60 0
1962 69 69 0
1961 79 79 0
1960 79 79 0
1959 114 114 0
1958 108 102 6
1957 102 102 0
1956 110 110 0
1955 153 148 5
1954 164 158 6
1953 123 123 0
1952 128 128 0
1951 129 129 0
1950 106 106 0
1949 105 100 5
1948 94 89 5
1947 86 86 0
1946 114 114 0
1945 85 79 6
1944 83 83 0
1943 80 80 0
1942 92 92 0
1941 121 121 0
1940 113 113 0
1939 141 136 5
1938 163 152 11
1937 157 145 12
1936 190 190 0
1935 186 181 5
1934 215 206 9
1933 185 180 5
1932 189 178 11
1931 150 143 7
1930 137 137 0
1929 96 96 0
1928 68 68 0
1927 35 35 0
1926 35 35 0
1925 29 24 5
1924 38 33 5
1923 34 34 0
1922 24 24 0
1921 18 18 0
1920 27 22 5
1919 25 25 0
1918 21 16 5
1917 18 18 0
1916 12 12 0
1915 13 13 0
1914 14 14 0
1910 8 8 0
1909 5 5 0

Top States for Arlen (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
OH 8
22%
CO 7
19%
WA 6
16%
FL 6
16%
GA 5
14%
PA 5
14%