Arlen
Boy name · #1588 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Arlen? In official American birth records, Arlen has been tracked continuously since 1909, giving it 116 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Arlen is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Arlen will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Arlen is most common
State-level data for Arlen 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 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
How old is the name Arlen?
In official American birth records, the name Arlen first appeared in 1909 (over 116 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 116 years.
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. 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.