Given name
Arlo
“from the barberry tree”
Arlo is used as a given name. One Spanish interpretation is “from the barberry tree.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Spanish interpretation is “from the barberry tree.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Spanish.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1899. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Arlo through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 25,135
- 24,245 boys · 890 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 2,574 babies
- 2025
- 2,514
- #148 for boys · #2,488 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +78%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 2,443 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 148 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 80.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 71 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (258). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 9,420 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.
Arlo’s family of names
Arlo has a related form in Arlow. Arlo has a related form in Arlowe. Arlo has a related form in Arrlo.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Arlo
- Arlo GuthrieAmerican folk singerborn 1947
- Arlo BatesAmerican writer (1850-1918)
- Arlo U. LandoltAmerican astronomer (1935–2022)
- Arlo WhiteBritish sports broadcasterborn 1973
- Arlo EisenbergAmerican inline skaterborn 1973
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Arlo, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Rio
“woman of the river” · “from the river”
79% boys · 21% girls
Itsasne
“of the sea”
—
Kai
Kai is used in several naming traditions, with different explanations for the same spelling.
93% boys · 7% girls
Jett
“resembling the jet-black lustrous gemstone”
98% boys · 2% girls
Hudson
“one who is adventurous; an explorer” · “the son of Hugh; from the river”
99% boys · 1% girls
Rowen
“of the red-berry tree”
77% boys · 23% girls
Usher
“from the mouth of the river” · “from. the mouth of the river”
>99% boys
Ford
“from the water” · “from the river crossing”
>99% boys