Arlan
Boy name · #2397 in 2025 · Very rare
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: SSA.
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
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: 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.