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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Arlen?!

35 replies

milosmummy16 · 02/08/2017 13:55

Love the name Arlo, but recently discovered the name Arlen which is very similar. Never heard of anyone called this before, what your opinion?

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tuvamoodyson · 08/03/2024 07:28

Arlen sounds like Janet Street Porter pronouncing Alan…

user1492757084 · 07/03/2024 23:02

Go with Arlen. My daughter went to school with a boy called Arlen and he was nice. Clever, fun and no strange mutterings about his name at all. I think it is Gaelic
Do you like Gavin?

AjsMum514 · 07/03/2024 17:25

I named my son Arlen in 2013. I've never had anyone write Arlene on his paperwork or call him Alan... I have received so many compliments on his name AND my friend named her grandson after my son.

peaceinourtime · 23/09/2023 14:11

Arlen’s a great name, go for it.

Ham888 · 21/09/2023 15:55

My son is called Arlen! He was born in 2010 ☺️
He gets mistaken for Ireland and Alan a lot (which we find hilarious) but it's not a big deal.
Just stumbled across this online after discussing how rare his name is!

Purpleavocado · 23/08/2022 10:32

I like it, I'm also in the SE and think it sounds fine with our accent. I know 2 Arlos.

pjmasksitsthepjmasks · 23/08/2022 10:27

Arlen isn't great, but Arlo is clearly meant to be a name for a dog, so in that case, Arlen is the better of the 2.

DovahBee11 · 23/08/2022 10:08

Hi Stereolovely,

I just got a notification someone had commented on this thread so had a shufty.
It was me who mentioned the name being from a book series! I loved the name Arlen but I had all girls (though I did consider Renna with my youngest!)

Just wanted to say what an awesome name choice and I'm glad to see someone used it!

stereolovely · 23/08/2022 07:33

I've just stumbled across this, I know it's older. I have an Arlen. He is named for the book character someone else mentioned. He's been called Arlo a couple of times and one swimming teacher kept calling him Arlene but otherwise it's been a positive response and very few mistakes from the uninitiated.
He was born November 2017, but I'm sure I never read this thread back then.

TheVanguardSix · 03/08/2017 13:54

Go against the trendy tide OP. Arlen is cool. Arlo, Milo, Otto are currently being done to death.

Scrumpernickel · 03/08/2017 13:42

An Arlen would definitely get mistaken for an Arlene from time to time. Everyone's heard of the name Arlene whereas I'd imagine hardly anyone has come across Arlen.

MrsMamaG2016 · 03/08/2017 13:37

Arlo is beautiful not liking Arlen at all

Floellabella · 03/08/2017 08:58

The child won't get Arlene on paperwork, that's silly. It's a boy not a girl, and Arlene isn't even a very popular name!

Go for it OP. Auden is also nice.

2014newme · 03/08/2017 08:57

Our len! 😂😂

Original poster
milosmummy16 · 03/08/2017 08:53

We live right down in the south east so I don't think we will have any problems with people pronouncing our len like a few have suggested, but you never know! Thanks for all the replies, i feel I do slightly prefer Arlo more but due to how popular it has become I would rather try to pick something slightly different xx

OP posts:
greendale17 · 03/08/2017 08:37

Sounds like a girls name to me. Don't like it- Arlo is far better

Glowerglass · 03/08/2017 08:36

The child will get Arlene on all paperwork, for ever.

It's a nice name, but.....

Floellabella · 03/08/2017 08:31

If you live up north or in wales you might need to consider the "our len" issue (altho I honestly don't think it would be a problem - plenty of names start with an Ah sound!). If you don't live up north or in wales then you don't need to worry about it. Nobody says that in the south or elsewhere in the world.

Honestly, people do come up with very imaginative and obscure reasons for not choosing certain names! Don't especially love Arlen or Arlo but that's nothing to do with those reasons! If you like it go for it

frid · 03/08/2017 01:17

Prefer Arlo to Arlen. Seconding the "our Len" comment.

What about Ardal?

Dixiestamp · 03/08/2017 00:43

Arlen is exactly how you would pronounce Alan if you lived just a bit further 'up the valley' than me! Saying that, I quite like it!

SuperBeagle · 02/08/2017 22:54

No.

Harland or Harlan if you're looking for a similar male name which is actually a name.

Or Arden.

squoosh · 02/08/2017 22:52

I thought the Irish word for promise was 'gealltanas' although I can see that is a bit more of a mouthful than Arlen Grin

Imnotatypicalsausage · 02/08/2017 22:47

No one will mistake Arlen for Alan since no babies are called Alan anymore! And they are clearly different names. Arlen is perfectly nice and much better than Arlo if you're trying to avoid a fad. It's a bit made up but then aren't lots of names? Or what about Arden, Auden, Aubin/Aubyn?

DramaAlpaca · 02/08/2017 21:55

I quite like Arlen.

ScandiManny · 02/08/2017 21:54

I have an Arlo & we were opposite an Arlen in the hospital. Obviously I prefer Arlo. They are everywhere at the moment though so if that bothered you then I'd go for Arlen.