Arlo Name Meaning

Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Arlo.

With no specific origin, the name Arlo has many derivatives and meanings. It is thought to be a variant of the name Harlow and derived from the Anglo-Saxon words hoer and hlaw, together meaning “stone or rock hill.” In some regions of England, the name Arlo translates to "fortified hill."

In fact, the name Arlo was first mentioned in the English poet Edmund Spenser’s 1590 poem "The Faerie Queene" as the name of a fictional place theorized to be derived from the Irish-Gaelic aherlow meaning “between two highlands.” In German, the name means “hill.”

  • Origin: Arlo is derived from Old English or Anglo-Saxon meaning "rock hill" or "fortified hill."
  • Gender: The name Arlo is most commonly seen as a boy name.
  • Pronunciation: awr-loh, AR-loh

Editor's Note

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

arlo name meaning

How Popular Is the Name Arlo?

One of the earliest bearers of the name in the US was Arlo Bates, an American author, newspaper editor, and professor of English.

The name first entered the top 1,000 names for boys in 1900, the year the list was first made available. The name ranked among the top 1,000 every year until 1944 when it dropped off the list for nearly 70 years. In 2023, Arlo ranked as the No. 158 boy's name in the US.

Name Variations

The following are the name variations for Arlo:

  • Arlow
  • Arlowe
  • Arrlo
  • Arrlow
  • Arrlowe
  • Harlow
  • Harlowe

Similar Names

Similar sounding names to Arlo include:

  • Alo
  • Arlene
  • Carlo
  • Harley
  • Hugo
  • Leo
  • Milo
  • Otto
  • Theo

Other boy names starting with "A" include:

  • Aaron
  • Abel
  • Abraham
  • Adam
  • Adrian
  • Adriel
  • Aiden
  • Alexander
  • Amos
  • Andrew
  • Antonio
  • Archer
  • Archie
  • Ari
  • Arthur
  • Asher
  • Ashton
  • August
  • Atticus
  • Axel
  • Aziel

Suggested Sibling Names

Looking for a sibling name for Arlo? Here are some popular options for girls and boys:

Famous People Named Arlo

From American author Arlo Bates to British musician Arlo Parks, there are many famous bearers of the name. Here are a few notable people who share the name Arlo.

Famous Arlos

  • Arlo Eisenberg, American inline skater known for pioneering street skating and innovator of aggressive inline skating
  • Arlo Guthrie, American singer-songwriter known for singing songs protesting against social injustice. His father, Woody Guthrie, also a famous folk singer, wrote the song "Goodnight Little Arlo"
  • Arlo Haskell, American author, historian, poet, literary organizer, and publisher, best known for his nonfiction work The Jews of Key West: Smugglers, Cigar Makers, and Revolutionaries (1823-1969)
  • Arlo L. Olson, WWII United States Army officer and recipient of the United States military’s highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
  • Arlo Parks, British singer-songwriter and poet best known for her debut studio album, "Collapsed in Sunbeams"
  • Arlo White, British sports presenter and commentator for the LIV Golf League

Fictional Arlos

  • Arlo, an Apatosaurus and the lead character in the 2015 Disney-Pixar animated film The Good Dinosaur
  • Arlo Beauregard, the lead titular character in the 2021 film Arlo the Alligator Boy and I Heart Arlo
  • Arlo Pear, the lead character in the 1988 comedy film Moving, portrayed by American actor Richard Pryor
  • Arlo, a leader from Team Go Rocket in Pokemon Go

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options: 

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Sources
Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Popularity of a NameSocial Security Administration. 2024.

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