unisex name · in the US
Arlen
AR-len (English)
- Gender Unisex (US)
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 8,927
England and Wales
#770
2025 births
Arlen is a unisex name in the United States, with 2 syllables. In 2025 it was given to 129 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
- Peaked in 1934, when 215 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1930s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
- Today about 1 in 25,700 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1909.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Arlen Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1900s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 111 |
| 1920s | 404 |
| 1930s | 1,713 |
| 1940s | 973 |
| 1950s | 1,237 |
| 1960s | 609 |
| 1970s | 363 |
| 1980s | 420 |
| 1990s | 447 |
| 2000s | 530 |
| 2010s | 679 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 663 |
How Popular Is Arlen?
In 2025, Arlen was given to 129 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Arlen Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Arlen
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Arlen Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Arlen over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Arlen is used differently depending on where you are. Each figure is the share of babies given the name who were girls, over the last ten years of that country's records.
- United States Both 20% girls · 982 babies
- England & Wales Boys' 0% girls · 359 babies
- Canada Boys' 0% girls · 106 babies
How to Say Arlen
- English AR-len
Sibling Names for Arlen
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Arlen — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Arlen
How popular is the name Arlen?
In 2025, Arlen was given to 129 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Arlen a girl's or a boy's name?
Arlen is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Arlen?
Arlen has 2 syllables.
When was Arlen most popular?
Arlen peaked in 1934, when 215 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1930s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
Is Arlen a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Arlen currently ranks #770 in the United States. After peaking in the 1930s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.