Search Names
Literary (from Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene, derived from Glen of Aherlow, Gaelic for 'between two highlands')Literary (Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene, derived from Gaelic Aherlow meaning 'between two highlands')Old EnglishOld English theory ('hoer' + 'hlaew' = 'fortified hill' or 'army hill')Unisex

Arlo

“Between two highlands (from Gaelic Aherlow via Spenser's literary 'Arlo Hill'); also theorized as 'fortified hill' from Old English roots.”

IPA Pronunciation/ˈɑːɹ.loʊ/
Syllables2
Phonetic ToneSoft

Summary

Arlo is a friendly and approachable name with a surprisingly complex and debated history. While often cited as an Old English name meaning "fortified hill," its most definite origin lies in literature, first appearing as a place name in Edmund Spenser's 16th-century epic poem, The Faerie Queene. The name has a gentle, yet sturdy feel, and has seen a dramatic rise in popularity in the 21st century.

Etymology & History

The story of Arlo is a fascinating journey with two competing origin stories. The most verifiable and historically documented source for the name is literary. It was first used by the English poet Edmund Spenser in his epic poem, The Faerie Queene, published in 1590. Spenser created a fictional place called "Arlo Hill," a setting for a debate among the gods. It is widely believed that Spenser derived this name from the real-life Glen of Aherlow in County Tipperary, Ireland, where he lived for a time. The Gaelic name Aherlow translates to "between two highlands," giving Arlo a poetic, geographical meaning.

A second, more recent theory suggests that Arlo has Old English roots. This explanation proposes that the name is a compound of two ancient words: "hoer," meaning strong or army, and "hlaew," meaning hill. This would give Arlo the meaning of "fortified hill" or "army hill." While this is a compelling explanation, the direct link to these specific Old English words is not as clearly documented as its literary origin in Spenser's work.

Regardless of its precise roots, the name Arlo was rarely used as a given name for centuries. It began to appear in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but remained uncommon, eventually falling off the popularity charts entirely by the mid-1940s. Its modern revival began in the 2010s, transforming it from an obscure name into a stylish and popular choice for boys.

Pronunciation & How It Sounds

  • IPA: /ˈɑːɹ.loʊ/
  • Syllables: 2
  • Tone: Soft
  • Stress: STRESS-unstress

In plain English, Arlo is pronounced "AR-low." The name begins with a broad "Ar" sound, similar to the start of "art" or "army." This flows smoothly into a gentle "low" sound, created by the liquid 'l' and the rounded 'o' vowel at the end. The stress falls squarely on the first syllable, giving the name a confident and grounded feel. Its simple, two-syllable structure and soft vowel sounds make it easy to say and pleasant to hear, contributing to its modern appeal.

Variants & Relatives

  • Arlow: A direct spelling variant that adds a 'w' at the end, sometimes seen as a surname.
  • Harlow: Considered a cousin to Arlo, this name also originates from Old English and means "army hill."
  • Carlo: Some sources suggest Arlo may have developed as a shortened form of the Italian name Carlo, which is a variant of Charles, meaning "free man."
  • Carlos: Similar to Carlo, the Spanish version Carlos is also proposed as a possible, though less direct, relative of Arlo.
  • Arleau/Arleaux: French surname variations that share a similar pronunciation to Arlo.

Historical Usage & Popularity

Arlo's journey on the popularity charts has been one of quiet existence followed by a meteoric rise. In the United States, the name made sporadic appearances on the top 1,000 baby names list from the early 1900s until it disappeared completely in 1944. For over six decades, Arlo was a rare choice.

The name began its dramatic comeback in 2011 when it re-entered the U.S. Top 1000. Since then, its popularity has surged, breaking into the top 200 in recent years. This trend is not limited to the United States; Arlo has also become a very popular name in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. The name's rise has been attributed to a trend for names ending in 'o' and its adoption by several celebrities for their children. As of the mid-2020s, Arlo has reached an all-time high in popularity, establishing itself as a fashionable yet classic-sounding name.

Famous Historical Figures

  • Arlo Bates (1850–1918): An American author, educator, and journalist. Bates was a professor of English at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and wrote several novels, books of poetry, and works of literary criticism.
  • Arlo Guthrie (b. 1947): An American folk singer and songwriter, and the son of the legendary folk artist Woody Guthrie. Arlo Guthrie is best known for his satirical talking blues song "Alice's Restaurant Massacree," which became a counter-cultural anthem of the 1960s.
  • Arlo U. Landolt (1935–2022): A distinguished American astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of stellar photometry, establishing widely used standard stars for measuring the brightness of celestial objects.
  • Arlo L. Olson (1918-1943): A United States Army officer who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during World War II in Italy.

Cultural & Literary Presence

  • The Faerie Queene (1590): The name Arlo makes its first known appearance in this epic allegorical poem by Edmund Spenser. "Arlo Hill" is a fictional location in Ireland where the gods gather to pass judgment. This literary origin gives the name a poetic and mythical quality.
  • The Good Dinosaur (2015): In this Disney/Pixar animated film, the main character is a young Apatosaurus named Arlo. This friendly and courageous character introduced the name to a new generation of children and parents, likely contributing to its rise in popularity.
  • Justified (2010-2015): The television series featured a prominent character named Arlo Givens, the criminally-inclined father of the main protagonist, Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens.

Classification & Tags

  • English
  • Irish
  • Literary
  • Poetic
  • Nature
  • Geographic
  • Short
  • Two-Syllable
  • Vintage
  • Modern
  • Friendly
  • Gentle

Bibliography & Sources

Cultural & Historical References

The Faerie Queene

Arlo Hill (fictional place) (literature)

Notable

The Good Dinosaur

Arlo (film)

Notable

Justified

Arlo Givens (television)

Notable