Arlo Name Meaning

Baby boy standing in cot - stock photo


Image Source / Getty Images

What Does the Name Arlo Mean?

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 name 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 commonly seen as a boy name.

Pronunciation: awr-loh or AR-loh

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family 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.

How Popular Is the Name Arlo?

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

The name first entered the Top 1000 in 1900, according to the latest Social Security Administration data. Until 1944, the name ranked every year only to disappear until 2011, when it ranked in the Top 1000 again. Since then, it has been steadily gaining popularity, with 2020 being its most popular year when it ranked at No. 220.

Arlo is a hit name of the decade and is also popular in Australia, New Zealand, and even in the UK, featuring in the Top 1000 since 2002.

Name Variations

The following are the name variations for Arlo:

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

Similar Names

Similar sounding names to Arlo:

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

Other boy names starting with A:

  • 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:

  • Arielle
  • Brooks
  • Charlotte
  • Emma
  • Ezekiel
  • Ezra
  • Freya
  • Genesis
  • Hazel
  • Henry
  • Hudson
  • Isla
  • Ivy
  • Liam
  • Levi
  • Mila
  • Miles
  • Noah
  • Oliver
  • Riley
  • Violet

Famous People Named Arlo

From American author, Arlo Bates, to British musician, Arlo Parks, there are many famous bearers of the name. Here are 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, Woodie 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, WW II 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 commentator, and presenter, and voice of NBC Sports’ live coverage of the Premier League in the United States

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: 


1 Source
Verywell Family 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. Social Security Administration. Popularity of the name Arlo.

By Meena Azzollini
Meena Azzollini is a health and wellness content creator with experience covering parenting, women's health, and mental health. She specializes in creating effective content for various health and wellness-based businesses and empowers them with words that make a connection with their audience.