Arlin
Boy name · #2771 in 2025 · Uniqueness 69/100
Arlin is currently the #2771 boy name in the United States — 46 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #3591, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 39,130 boys born in 2025 was named Arlin.
Babies named Arlin per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 115-year story
Arlin first appears in the Social Security records in 1910, when 9 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1935, when 85 boys were named Arlin — good for #641 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 Arlin against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Arlin in class?
Arlin scores 69 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Arlin will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Arlin is most common
State-level data for Arlin is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Arlin
Statistically, parents drawn to Arlin tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Merlin, Arlan, Marlin, Olin, and Arlen.
MerlinArlanMarlinOlinArlenElvinAltonMervin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Arlin | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 46 | #2765 |
| 2024 | 57 | #2418 |
| 2023 | 40 | #3055 |
| 2022 | 45 | #2830 |
| 2021 | 38 | #3121 |
| 2020 | 38 | #3025 |
| 2019 | 26 | #4003 |
| 2018 | 24 | #4226 |
| 2017 | 20 | #4746 |
| 2016 | 17 | #5318 |
| 2015 | 30 | #3591 |
| 2014 | 24 | #4138 |
| 2013 | 21 | #4463 |
| 2012 | 25 | #4003 |
| 2011 | 17 | #5200 |
| 2010 | 21 | #4517 |
| 2009 | 15 | #5800 |
| 2008 | 21 | #4540 |
| 2007 | 18 | #4996 |
| 2006 | 15 | #5525 |
| 2005 | 16 | #5034 |
| 2004 | 22 | #4005 |
| 2003 | 15 | #5035 |
| 2002 | 14 | #5131 |
| 2001 | 27 | #3228 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Arlin a popular boy name?
Arlin ranked #2771 among boys in 2025 with 46 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3591.
When was the name Arlin most popular?
Arlin peaked in 1935, when 85 American boys received the name (ranked #641 that year). Since 1935 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Arlin?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 39,130 newborn American boys was named Arlin. It scores 69/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "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.