How Many People Are Named Arlen?

Complete statistics for the name Arlen: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Arlen
Very Rare
English surname used as a first name

Arlen, a very rare male name, is held by just 4,963 people in the US today, making up 1 in 66,488 Americans. The majority of Arlens are over 60, reflecting its status as a classic, old-school name.

~615
Living in US
1 in 538,942
Americans
1934
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
English occupational surname (one who rides)
🌐
Origin
English surname used as a first name
🌟
Lucky Day
Friday
💎
Lucky Stone
Amethyst
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 5
Personality Traits
Determined Adventurous
5
Life Path Number

Life-path number 5 represents freedom, adventure, and change.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

4,963
Worldwide Bearers
#25,352
Global Rank
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
291
🇷🇺 Russia
201
🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
176
🇵🇪 Peru
125
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
111
🇨🇱 Chile
109
🇹🇿 Tanzania
94
🇨🇺 Cuba
68
🇦🇱 Albania
54
🇿🇦 South Africa
45

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
4,261 (86%)
♀ Female
702 (14%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 61
1,885
Would be under 30 (23%)
1,286
Would be 30–60 (16%)
4,852
Would be over 60 (60%)

All 8,023 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1934

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
96
Classic Feel
84
Modern Appeal
36
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Arlen Through the Generations

Arlen has been a name through the generations, peaking in popularity in 1934 with 215 births. Today, it's a name that's seen a resurgence, with a rising trend noted. Over 60% of those named Arlen are over 60 years old, indicating a strong connection to older generations. With only 1,885 under 30, it's clear that Arlen is a name that carries a lot of history and nostalgia.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 614
Minnesota 447
Texas 313
Iowa 214
Wisconsin 199
North Dakota 163
Ohio 142
Illinois 132
Kansas 108
Michigan 106

⭐ Famous People Named Arlen

Arlen is a given name. Notable people with the given name include:Arlen Erdahl (1931–2023), American politician Arlen Escarpeta, Belizean actor Arlen Harris, American football player Arlen Lancaster, chief of the United States Department of Agriculture Arlen López, Cuban boxer Arlen Ness (1939–2019), American motorcycle designer Arlen Roth, American guitarist Arlen Siegfreid (1946–2020), American politician Arlen Siu (1955–1975), Chinese-Nicaraguan writer Arlen Specter (1930–2012), American politician Arlen Thompson, drummer of the indie rock group Wolf Parade…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Arlen

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Arlen's English surname used as a first name roots

📄 About the Name Arlen

How Many People Have the Name Arlen?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 615 people in the United States currently share the name Arlen. That works out to roughly 1 in every 538,942 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Arlen a Common or Rare Name?

Arlen is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Arlen Mean?

Arlen means "English occupational surname (one who rides)" and comes from English surname used as a first name origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 5.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Arlen in SSA data, approximately 86% are male and 14% are female.

When Was Arlen Most Popular?

The name Arlen reached peak popularity in 1934, with 215 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Arlen?

Approximately 615 people named Arlen live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 615. That works out to roughly 1 in 538,942 Americans.

Is Arlen a rare name?

Arlen is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 538,942 Americans has this name.

What does the name Arlen mean?

Arlen means "English occupational surname (one who rides)" and comes from English surname used as a first name origins.

Is Arlen more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 86% of people named Arlen are male and 14% are female.

When was Arlen most popular?

Arlen peaked in 1934 with 215 births that year. Current trend: Rising.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US615
All-Time Births615
1 in X1 in 538,942
RarityVery Rare
GenderMale
Avg Age61
Peak Year1934
World Rank#25,352
Male %86%
Female %14%

Check the statistics for any first or last name

Search Names
Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.