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Baby names

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

Original poster

Arlo

55 replies

BeKindBeYou · 24/12/2021 13:39

I know this name gets quite a lot of hate around here, but we are really thinking about this name for our son because we love it.

I know it’s getting popular, but it’s still only mid 20s in the rankings and nowhere near as popular as the likes of Jack’s and George’s.

Honest opinions on this name please!

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supertedious · 26/12/2021 19:46

Makes me think of Arlo the dinosaur.

Really popular too which would put me off some what.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 26/12/2021 19:41

Agree that Arlo will date so isn't my taste, sorry - on top of being quite a modern name that has surged/risen suddenly, it's also part of the current trend for short "o" ending boys names to boot (Leo, Theo, Milo, Hugo etc) so has the double whammy.

I don't dislike popular names if they are fairly timeless - because even though there may be loads about, at least it can be harder for people to stereotype age, background etc to the name in future. For example George has never left the top 100 popular names and Jack is also used by lots of older men too (admittedly many of the older "Jack's" may be John's officially).

I'd personally be nervous Arlo could be another Wayne or Keith etc type name in 40 years (apologies to Wayne's or Keith's!)

KirstenBlest · 26/12/2021 16:43

Darren and Arlo have a very similar meaning.
I think Arlo will fall out of popularity after about 10 years and will pinpoint the name to the late 2010s to 2020s.

KirstenBlest · 26/12/2021 16:36

@UserBot, the name Darren is said to be a very old name of welsh or possibly irish oriigin. Tarren (which mutates to Darren) is a word in Welsh.

Darren started to be used in the UK in 1964 and it might be inspired by a character in the tv show Bewitched. Samantha is another name from Bewitched.

I know lots of Darrens but the youngest is about 40

UserBot · 26/12/2021 01:00

@LiberteEgaliteBeyonce

I find the "it will date" argument strange. Most names will date, as they always have.
But new names with no history date the absolute worst

Think of Darren for example. I don't think there are any Darrens over 60 because it was a new name in 1960 ish.

Same with Tracey. It emerged out of nowhere (seemingly, it had been used for men) around about 1965

Names that have some history of being used even if they have fallen out of use whether they're on the way in or out, they don't date the same way.

Nevth · 26/12/2021 00:16

I know three Arlos. But they're all dogs...Smile

Benjispruce5 · 26/12/2021 00:14

Lovely name but there are 3 in my class at the moment aged between 5 and 6.

arlodumbledog · 26/12/2021 00:12

well, well, well…

LiberteEgaliteBeyonce · 26/12/2021 00:03

I find the "it will date" argument strange. Most names will date, as they always have.

EishetChayil · 25/12/2021 23:48

Horrible.

Used to be a posh name but now it's used by reality tv stars.

Female equivalent is Harriet.

Orphlids · 25/12/2021 21:39

It doesn’t have much oomph. The sound is just too gentle. I don’t like the way it has no hard edges in it. I agree with a PP that it does seem to be a specific kind of family who choose the name. In my unfortunate experience, it is people who bring their guitars to social gatherings and proceed to sing shit folk music at you, and then cheerfully congratulate themselves on being such free spirits. But OP, if you don’t do stuff like that, I think it’ll be okay. It’s certainly not the worst name in the world.

nightdune · 25/12/2021 20:20

I love it.

Fetchthevet · 25/12/2021 16:47

I don't like it, sorry. Probably because I used to live in Harlow and it reminds me of that.

CatJumperTwat · 25/12/2021 16:43

If you're giving birth to a yoghurt

terriblyangryattimes · 25/12/2021 16:41

I have an older Arlo (he arrived and was named before the dinosaur in the movie) and we don't know any others, or didn't until a little lad started in reception called Arlo at our school in September.

Mine is named after Arlo Guthrie.

I don't think we're

MerryChristmasToYou · 25/12/2021 15:51

Arla milk

RowsOfHolly · 25/12/2021 07:48

@peaceinourtime

It will age badly. Yes it may seem cute now but can you really imagine Arlo as an old man?
Yes, because I assume it is after Arlo Guthrie, so a pretty cool old man.
peaceinourtime · 25/12/2021 07:39

It will age badly. Yes it may seem cute now but can you really imagine Arlo as an old man?

TitilatedOcelot · 25/12/2021 01:13

@WeasilyPleased

I really like it. Makes me think of Arlo Guthrie and Alice's Resteraunt. I have very odd musical tastes Grin
My first thought too - glad I'm not the only one Smile
invisiblereally · 25/12/2021 00:48

I love it
If you love it, use it.
That's the beauty of makes. It's better if we all have different opinions or our children would all be called the same thing Grin

Unicornflakegirl · 25/12/2021 00:32

I'm not keen, someone at work has a nephew called Arlo and doesn't like it as she associates it with Arla milk.
I don't know anything about Arla milk but if it's a popular brand where you are (and granted it ends in 'a' not' o') then check if that bothers you.
I'd rather use Arthur which might also be popular but will age better.

UserBot · 25/12/2021 00:25

I kind of like Arnaud though. Same sound (nearly) but seems a bit less predictable. Less of an 'o' name.

UserBot · 25/12/2021 00:24

I think it will date badly as well. The only 'o' names that wont date are Hugo and omg I've forgotten the other one!

I was going to call my son Bruno though but I wasn't allowed, x only likes normal names

WeasilyPleased · 25/12/2021 00:21

I really like it. Makes me think of Arlo Guthrie and Alice's Resteraunt. I have very odd musical tastes Grin

dementedma · 24/12/2021 22:59

Common, and will date