UK name, mostly boys
Arly
A French variant of the masculine name Arley or a feminine diminutive of Arlette.
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.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 3 girls.
Arly is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Arly popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 4 births.
This profile covers 13 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2019 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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.
Arly is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 13 living people in the UK are called Arly. 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
- • Arly ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 4 boys were registered as Arly.
- • Arly is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 13 living people in the UK are estimated to have Arly as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 81.3% of Arly registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4270
2024
Births in 2024
4
Latest year
Peak year
2024
4 births
Estimated living
13
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Arly
In England and Wales birth records, Arly has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 81.3% of registrations are for boys and 18.8% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Arly registered for boys
- Ranked #4,270 in 2024
- 4 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (4 births)
Arly registered for girls
- Ranked #5,891 in 2024
- 3 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Arly mean?
The name Arly is a diminutive form of the name Arlo, which itself is a variation of the name Arlie. The name Arlie has its origins in the Old English language, deriving from the words "ærn" meaning "eagle" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing". It was a name given to children born or raised in a meadow or clearing where eagles were frequently spotted.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Arlie dates back to the 9th century in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, where it was mentioned as the name of a young boy from the village of Earningwold in present-day Yorkshire, England. The name gained popularity among the Anglo-Saxon nobility during the Middle Ages.
In the 12th century, a notable figure named Arlie of Pembroke was a Welsh nobleman and military leader who played a significant role in the conflicts between the Welsh and the Normans. He was renowned for his bravery and tactical skills on the battlefield.
During the Renaissance period, the name Arlie was associated with the Italian artist and architect Arlie Fiore, born in 1460 in Florence. He was known for his intricate architectural designs and his contributions to the development of the Renaissance style.
In the 18th century, Arlie Macdonald was a Scottish poet and playwright whose works were widely acclaimed for their wit and social commentary. She was born in 1720 in Edinburgh and was a prominent figure in the Scottish literary circles of her time.
Another notable figure was Arlie Neville, an English botanist and explorer born in 1785. He traveled extensively throughout the British colonies, documenting and cataloging various plant species. His work contributed significantly to the advancement of botanical knowledge during the 19th century.
While the name Arly itself is a more recent diminutive form, it carries the same linguistic roots and historical significance as its parent name, Arlie. The name evokes a sense of connection with nature, particularly with the majestic eagle and the serene meadows of its origin.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Arly over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Arly in England and Wales, from 2019 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 Arly, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Arly by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Arly 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 | #4683 | 10 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4702 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Arly
- 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
Arly: questions and answers
How popular is the name Arly in the UK right now?
In 2024, Arly was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Arly most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 4 babies registered as Arly in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Arly?
A French variant of the masculine name Arley or a feminine diminutive of Arlette.
How many people are called Arly in the UK?
A total of 13 babies have been registered as Arly across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.