NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Arrow

A name derived from the word for the pointed projectile weapon.

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 9 girls.

Arrow is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Arrow popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 10 births.

This profile covers 44 England and Wales registrations across 7 recorded years from 2017 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.

The latest count is about 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 44 living people in the UK are called Arrow. 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

  • Arrow ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 10 boys were registered as Arrow.
  • Arrow is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 44 living people in the UK are estimated to have Arrow as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 83.0% of Arrow registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3688

2024

Births in 2024

5

Latest year

Peak year

2022

10 births

Estimated living

44

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Arrow

In England and Wales birth records, Arrow has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 83.0% of registrations are for boys and 17.0% 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.

83% boys
17% girls
Boys44 (83.0%)Girls9 (17.0%)

Arrow registered for boys

  • Ranked #3,688 in 2024
  • 5 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2022 (10 births)

Arrow registered for girls

  • Ranked #5,669 in 2022
  • 3 girls registered in 2022
  • Peak: 2017 (3 births)

Meaning

What does Arrow mean?

The name Arrow is an English word name derived from the projectile weapon used with a bow. It has its origins in the Old English word "arwe" or "arwe," which itself comes from the Proto-Germanic "arkhwo." The name likely emerged as a given name in the modern era, perhaps inspired by the symbolism of strength, speed, and precision associated with the arrow.

While the word "arrow" has ancient roots, there is little evidence of its use as a given name in historical records or literature until more recent times. It does not appear to have been a common name in ancient civilizations or found in religious texts or scriptures.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Arrow is Arrow Williams, a Native American activist and actor born in 1923. He was known for his work in promoting Native American rights and his roles in films such as "The Outlaw Josey Wales" and "Thunderheart."

Another notable person with the name Arrow is Arrow Auker, an American baseball player who pitched for the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox in the 1930s and 1940s. He was born in 1904 and played in the major leagues from 1933 to 1945.

In the realm of literature, Arrow is the name of a character in the science fiction novel "The Giver" by Lois Lowry, published in 1993. Arrow is a young girl in the dystopian society depicted in the book.

Arrow Betz is a contemporary American actor and musician, known for his roles in films such as "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" and the television series "Longmire." He was born in 1982.

Arrow Newer is a Canadian actress and model, born in 1988. She has appeared in various television shows and films, including "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" alongside Arrow Betz.

It's worth noting that while the name Arrow has gained some popularity in recent times, it remains a relatively uncommon given name, particularly in comparison to more traditional names. Its usage reflects a modern trend towards unique and symbolic names inspired by natural elements or concepts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Arrow over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Arrow in England and Wales, from 2017 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 Arrow, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
0371013201720202024

Decades

Arrow by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Arrow 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 #2933 34 5
2010s #3742 10 2

Related

Names similar to Arrow

FAQ

Arrow: questions and answers

How popular is the name Arrow in the UK right now?

In 2024, Arrow was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Arrow most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 10 babies registered as Arrow in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Arrow?

A name derived from the word for the pointed projectile weapon.

How many people are called Arrow in the UK?

A total of 44 babies have been registered as Arrow across the 7 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.