Arlen
Boy name · #1588 in 2025 · Uniqueness 50/100
Arlen ranks #1588 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 107 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2253, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 16,822 boys born in 2025 was named Arlen.
Babies named Arlen per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 116-year story
Arlen first appears in the Social Security records in 1909, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1934, when 206 boys were named Arlen — good for #380 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Arlen against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Arlen in class?
Arlen scores 50 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Arlen is most common
Geography matters for names, and Arlen is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Arlens were CA (13), TN (8), NC (7), TX (6), WA (6). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Arlen
Statistically, parents drawn to Arlen tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Harlen, Arlan, Arlin, Olen, and Alton.
HarlenArlanArlinOlenAltonEldenElvinAllen
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Arlen | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 107 | #1585 |
| 2024 | 99 | #1685 |
| 2023 | 101 | #1681 |
| 2022 | 80 | #1938 |
| 2021 | 88 | #1789 |
| 2020 | 66 | #2113 |
| 2019 | 68 | #2110 |
| 2018 | 55 | #2385 |
| 2017 | 66 | #2091 |
| 2016 | 60 | #2228 |
| 2015 | 59 | #2253 |
| 2014 | 53 | #2402 |
| 2013 | 42 | #2763 |
| 2012 | 42 | #2811 |
| 2011 | 41 | #2852 |
| 2010 | 27 | #3812 |
| 2009 | 34 | #3274 |
| 2008 | 26 | #3921 |
| 2007 | 31 | #3444 |
| 2006 | 43 | #2698 |
| 2005 | 47 | #2433 |
| 2004 | 32 | #3074 |
| 2003 | 27 | #3366 |
| 2002 | 32 | #2882 |
| 2001 | 23 | #3617 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Arlen a popular boy name?
Arlen ranked #1588 among boys in 2025 with 107 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2253.
When was the name Arlen most popular?
Arlen peaked in 1934, when 206 American boys received the name (ranked #380 that year). Since 1934 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Arlen?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 16,822 newborn American boys was named Arlen. It scores 50/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.