Is Arlo too popular?

The big jump in popularity recently might suggest that it might be a bit faddy.

It’s a nice name but I know a lot. Out of my baby group of approx 10 there were 4 Arlos! You’d be pretty unlucky to get those odds though so if you love it then use it. I think Arlo James is lovely and wouldn’t think about the AJ nn. If not Arlo, Jago has a similar feel but is less popular.

Every other Arlo will be Arlo James.
The name Arlo is very popular and rising in popularity, so for a 2024 baby, I'd expect it to be even more popular.

Figures for England & Wales 2022:

Rank Name Count Change in Rank Since 2021 Change in Rank Since 2012
1 Noah 4,586 0 13
2 Muhammad 4,177 3 17
3 George 3,699 0 9
4 Oliver 3,691 -2 -2
5 Leo 3,610 1 15
6 Arthur 3,603 -2 46
7 Oscar 2,883 1 10
8 Theodore 2,835 3 89
9 Theo 2,808 6 35
10 Freddie 2,760 2 28
11 Archie 2,684 -2 12
12 Luca 2,625 16 49
13 Henry 2,624 -3 11
14 Jack 2,431 -1 -11
15 Harry 2,403 -8 -14
16 Charlie 2,391 -2 -12
17 Alfie 2,304 -1 -10
18 Arlo 2,176 2 229 - new entry to top 100
19 Thomas 2,101 -1 -13
20 Teddy 2,030 6 121 - new entry to top 100

Edited as an asterisk made the formatting funny

I have a teenage Arlo and he was the only one I knew for a long time.

At our primary school now there is a class with Arlos who are also identified by first letter of surname, so I think it's probably become a lot more popular.

Our horse is called Arlo 😆

It's definitely on the rise - I know a few baby and pre school Arlos and there is one in dd11's class so not just younger ones. Popular pets name too

@EmiliaGeorge names outside the top 200 aren’t unusual names though, I know it’s your DH saying they aren’t real names, not you, but I’m not sure that argument holds up if you actually look at the names!

Names outside the top 200 - Francis, Marcus, Leonard, Victor, Nicolas, Peter, Julian, Damian, Jonathan, Bradley, Richard, Bruno. Fair enough if you don’t /like/ them, but to say they are not real names is odd to my ear.

You can find real names all the way along. There are names well all have heard of way outside the top 2500 (Cuthbert, Roderick, Wallace, Clarence, Cecil, Cyril)

It’s not like these are crazy hippy made up names or shortenings.

I don't know any Arlos

I have not met any Arlos and don't think I've ever heard of anyone calling their child Arlo either. It may be popular in your area but it is unlikely your Arlo and all the other Arlos will all continue to live in the same place when they grow up. They'll disperse and be the only Arlo in town.

I work in a secondary school with 1200 pupils qe have 2 Arlo's in the whole school

It’s more how trendy it is that would put me off. It will likely be the Gary of the future, as it got popular really quickly out of no where. Not necessarily a bad thing, but something I try to avoid.

It is the number one dog name in our area.

I know 10 under 6.

I know of one baby with it as a middle name. I really like the name.

My hairdresser's dog is called Arlo. I don't like it as a person name.

Not heard of it apart from the dinosaur film.

I know 3 under school age, and one aged 10. Agree it’s less common than Theo, but I think it’ll age worse.

I really like it.

I only know 1 and he’s 10.

Tbh there are far more many Alfie’s, George’s, Oscar’s, Samuels,
Olivers and Theo’s at our school. There isn’t an Arlo.

I agree with others this may depend on area you live.
I don't know any Arlos, in fact I've never heard the name

I know one Arlo and he is in his 50s. I don’t know any child or baby Arlos.

It seems faddy to me rather than extremely popular. It is popular though, although not overly so in my area. I know of an 8 year old Arlo and a baby Arlo. I hear it in the park semi regularly, though not as much as Noah and Arthur

It was quite popular five or six years ago but I get the feeling the name has cooled down a bit. My boy is called Arlo and there is only one other boy in his school with the same name and they are fine years apart. Primary school.

I know one little boy and one dog

As someone said upthread, popular names tend to fall into two categories - the classics, where a person with that name could be any age. James is a perfect example! Or the trendy names that do date quickly - Gary being a great example in that in 2024 you wouldn't bat an eyelid at a middle aged Gary but a baby Gary would stand out.

Arlo would fall into the second category, and that may not bother you at all, but it's something to be aware of.

Sorry. Are you gonna name your child Arlo Valerian or not? He's clearly a minor character in some middling fantasy novel. Arlo Valerian.

Terrible name. Arlo.
Worst name. Arlo Valerian.

I’m a teacher and have never taught an Arlo. I also have 4 children under ten and have never met an Arlo in any class/playgroup or activity. I think Arlo James is a lovely name. You can never guarantee there won’t be another kid with the same name in your social circle even if you choose an unusual name. I would be led by thr names you like rather than the popularity