Arlin

Arlin - A very unique male name

Arlin appeared on the charts for the first time in 1913 on position #1103. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Arlin and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Arlin? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Arlin. The baby boy name Arlin was given to 11 baby boys in 2025, ranking #3009 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 133,299 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Arlin peaked in popularity 88 years ago in 1938 on position 656.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Arlin, 1-5?

Arlin is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Arlin is currently topping the baby name charts in Pennsylvania at position #1,107 - and is the least popular in Ohio at position #1,279.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Arlin is where you live.

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Arlin origin and meaning

American — origin uncertain

Uncertain — Arlin may be a short form of Arlington, a variant of Arlen, or an independent coinage on the Ar- names of its era; no source is documented

Arlin has flickered in the data since 1913 with a small peak in 1938, never common enough for its story to be recorded. It belongs to the loose family of Ar- names — Arlen, Arlyn, Arlie — that circulated in the early 20th century.

Origin uncertain

Arlin is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Arlin, pop culture references for the name Arlin and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Arlin

We've found the following names that sound similar to Arlin, sorted by popularity.

Arlen / Arlan / Arlyn / Arlington / Arlon / Aureliano / Arland / Arlind / Arlene / Aurelian /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Arlin

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Arlin a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Arlin?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

AR-lin · /ˈɑrlɪn/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Arlen — A close relative, more common than Arlin
• Arlyn — A y-spelling of a similar name

Famous bearers

None yet — no bearer for this name is documented well enough for us to list, so we show none rather than pad the list.

Why parents choose it

Arlin is a soft, obscure vintage option that feels both gentle and masculine. Its rarity and simplicity are the appeal.

Worth knowing

• Arlen and the girls' name Arlene are close enough to cause mix-ups.