UK boy's name
Arlen
A masculine name derived from the Hebrew words meaning "pledge" or "promise".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Arlen is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Arlen popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #898, with 35 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 57 births.
This profile covers 459 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 61% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 469 living people in the UK are called Arlen. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Arlen ranked #898 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 35 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 57 boys were registered as Arlen.
- • Arlen ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #727 in 2024.
- • About 469 living people in the UK are estimated to have Arlen as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#898
2024
Births in 2024
35
Latest year
Peak year
2021
57 births
Estimated living
469
2026
Meaning
What does Arlen mean?
The name Arlen originated from the Old English word "ærn," which means "dwelling" or "house." This name first appeared in the 8th century AD in England and was primarily used as a surname before becoming a given name.
During the Middle Ages, the name was primarily found in regions of England and Scotland, where it was commonly spelled as "Arlene" or "Arlyne." The earliest recorded instance of the name Arlen dates back to the Domesday Book, a survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, where it was listed as a surname.
In the 14th century, the name Arlen appeared in the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, the famous English poet and author. Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" includes a character named "Arlen of Bukton," which suggests the name was in use during that time period.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the given name Arlen was Arlen Fierson, a Scottish merchant and trader who lived in the late 15th century. Another notable figure was Arlen Fairchild, an English soldier who fought in the War of the Roses (1455-1487).
In the 16th century, the name gained popularity among Puritans in England and was sometimes used as a variation of the name "Arlene." One of the most well-known individuals with this name was Arlen Dyer, an English Protestant reformer and writer who lived from 1530 to 1594.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Arlen spread to other parts of Europe and North America, where it was adopted by various communities. One notable figure from this period was Arlen Witherspoon, an American Revolutionary War soldier who fought alongside George Washington (1732-1794).
In the 19th century, the name Arlen saw a resurgence in popularity, particularly in the United States. One of the most famous individuals with this name was Arlen Sackler, an American philanthropist and entrepreneur who co-founded Purdue Pharma (1915-2010).
Another notable figure from this era was Arlen Tatum, an American jazz pianist and composer widely regarded as one of the greatest virtuosos of his time (1909-1956).
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Arlen over time
The chart below shows babies named Arlen registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Arlen, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 35 births in 2024, compared with 57 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Arlen by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Arlen was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #791 | 212 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1760 | 168 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2370 | 60 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2135 | 19 | 4 |
Geography
Where Arlen is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Arlen. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Arlen ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #727 in 2024.
Across the UK
Arlen in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#727 in 2024
4 years of NRS records, 13 total registered
Related
Names similar to Arlen
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Arlen: questions and answers
How popular is the name Arlen in the UK right now?
In 2024, Arlen was ranked #898 for boys in England and Wales, with 35 births registered.
When was Arlen most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 57 babies registered as Arlen in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Arlen?
A masculine name derived from the Hebrew words meaning "pledge" or "promise".
How many people are called Arlen in the UK?
A total of 459 babies have been registered as Arlen across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 13 more in Scotland.
Where is Arlen most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Arlen ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #727 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.