Arrow
Boy name · #1985 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Arrow? In official American birth records, Arrow has been tracked continuously since 1971, giving it 54 years of documented American history.
Arrow is currently the #1985 boy name in the United States — 77 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1641, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 23,377 boys born in 2025 was named Arrow.
The 54-year story
Arrow first appears in the Social Security records in 1971, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2018, when 172 boys were named Arrow — good for #1122 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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 Arrow per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Arrow against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Arrow in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Arrow is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Arrow will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Arrow is most common
State-level data for Arrow 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 Arrow
Statistically, parents drawn to Arrow tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ayven, Arlow, Aylan, Ayansh, and Amen.
AyvenArlowAylanAyanshAmenAayanAudenAxle
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Arrow | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 77 | #1976 |
| 2024 | 100 | #1673 |
| 2023 | 116 | #1518 |
| 2022 | 124 | #1457 |
| 2021 | 128 | #1424 |
| 2020 | 155 | #1215 |
| 2019 | 161 | #1188 |
| 2018 | 172 | #1122 |
| 2017 | 138 | #1306 |
| 2016 | 122 | #1421 |
| 2015 | 97 | #1641 |
| 2014 | 60 | #2230 |
| 2013 | 38 | #2955 |
| 2012 | 34 | #3231 |
| 2011 | 28 | #3695 |
| 2010 | 18 | #5047 |
| 2009 | 16 | #5554 |
| 2008 | 10 | #7698 |
| 2007 | 7 | #9788 |
| 2006 | 12 | #6460 |
| 2005 | 10 | #7096 |
| 2004 | 7 | #8927 |
| 2003 | 6 | #9581 |
| 2002 | 6 | #9392 |
| 2001 | 5 | #10556 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Arrow?
In official American birth records, the name Arrow first appeared in 1971 (over 54 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 54 years.
Is Arrow a popular boy name?
Arrow ranked #1985 among boys in 2025 with 77 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1641.
When was the name Arrow most popular?
Arrow peaked in 2018, when 172 American boys received the name (ranked #1122 that year). Since 2018 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Arrow?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 23,377 newborn American boys was named Arrow. 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.