Arlan
Boy name · #2397 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Arlan? In official American birth records, Arlan has been tracked continuously since 1912, giving it 113 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 57 baby boys were named Arlan, placing it at #2397 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #4179, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 31,579 boys born in 2025 was named Arlan.
Babies named Arlan per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 113-year story
Arlan first appears in the Social Security records in 1912, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1936, when 87 boys were named Arlan — good for #625 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 Arlan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Arlan in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Arlan is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Arlan will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Arlan is most common
State-level data for Arlan 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 Arlan
Statistically, parents drawn to Arlan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Arlin, Arlen, Harlen, Allan, and Harlan.
ArlinArlenHarlenAllanHarlanFlorianWaltonMerlin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Arlan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 57 | #2390 |
| 2024 | 47 | #2750 |
| 2023 | 49 | #2660 |
| 2022 | 34 | #3412 |
| 2021 | 40 | #3021 |
| 2020 | 43 | #2806 |
| 2019 | 34 | #3347 |
| 2018 | 37 | #3106 |
| 2017 | 29 | #3678 |
| 2016 | 25 | #4098 |
| 2015 | 24 | #4179 |
| 2014 | 18 | #5066 |
| 2013 | 21 | #4463 |
| 2012 | 16 | #5482 |
| 2011 | 22 | #4356 |
| 2010 | 19 | #4848 |
| 2009 | 16 | #5554 |
| 2008 | 12 | #6763 |
| 2007 | 16 | #5434 |
| 2006 | 22 | #4223 |
| 2005 | 15 | #5278 |
| 2004 | 12 | #6138 |
| 2003 | 11 | #6258 |
| 2002 | 13 | #5395 |
| 2001 | 7 | #8339 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Arlan?
In official American birth records, the name Arlan first appeared in 1912 (over 113 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 113 years.
Is Arlan a popular boy name?
Arlan ranked #2397 among boys in 2025 with 57 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4179.
When was the name Arlan most popular?
Arlan peaked in 1936, when 87 American boys received the name (ranked #625 that year). Since 1936 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Arlan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 31,579 newborn American boys was named Arlan. 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.