Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Arlis isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1906. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Arlis through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,769
- 1,972 boys · 797 girls
- Most popular year
- 1931
- 69 babies
- 2025
- 23
- #4,409 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +62%
- Rising fast
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 100% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 23 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,409 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 62.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 48 in 1931. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,382 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Arlis’s family of names
Arlis has a related form in Arliss. In Greek usage, Arlis is a transliteration of Άρλις.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Arlis, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Alvis
“one who is wise”
>99% boys
Odis
Odis is a masculine given name.
>99% boys
Armond
“of the army; a soldier”
>99% boys
Garner
“one who gathers or keeps grain”
83% boys · 17% girls
Alford
“one who counsels the elves”
>99% boys
Alois
“perfectly wise”
>99% boys
Alvin
“friend of the elves”
>99% boys
Arvil
>99% boys