Arla
Girl name · #4995 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Arla? In official American birth records, Arla has been tracked continuously since 1888, giving it 137 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 26 baby girls were named Arla, placing it at #4995 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #10866, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 69,231 girls born in 2025 was named Arla.
The 137-year story
Arla first appears in the Social Security records in 1888, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1934, when 64 girls were named Arla — good for #855 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Arla per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Arla against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Arla in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Arla is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Arla will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Arla is most common
State-level data for Arla is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Arla
Statistically, parents drawn to Arla tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Nira, Alta, Vita, Eudora, and Lula.
NiraAltaVitaEudoraLulaOraLovellaRosella
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Arla | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | #4987 |
| 2024 | 25 | #5148 |
| 2023 | 20 | #5960 |
| 2022 | 21 | #5793 |
| 2021 | 27 | #4833 |
| 2020 | 26 | #4880 |
| 2019 | 15 | #7342 |
| 2018 | 21 | #5785 |
| 2017 | 15 | #7442 |
| 2016 | 7 | #12876 |
| 2015 | 9 | #10866 |
| 2014 | 6 | #14558 |
| 2013 | 5 | #16547 |
| 2012 | 6 | #14962 |
| 2011 | 6 | #14824 |
| 2008 | 5 | #17504 |
| 2005 | 5 | #16462 |
| 1991 | 10 | #7987 |
| 1989 | 5 | #12362 |
| 1988 | 5 | #11798 |
| 1987 | 5 | #11325 |
| 1986 | 5 | #10912 |
| 1985 | 9 | #6955 |
| 1983 | 13 | #5148 |
| 1982 | 8 | #7469 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Arla?
In official American birth records, the name Arla first appeared in 1888 (over 137 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Arla a popular girl name?
Arla ranked #4995 among girls in 2025 with 26 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #10866.
When was the name Arla most popular?
Arla peaked in 1934, when 64 American girls received the name (ranked #855 that year). Since 1934 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Arla?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 69,231 newborn American girls was named Arla. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.