Arlo a trend/fad name?

I do think Arlo is particularly dated - more so than other popular names, due to its sudden spike in popularity. As pp mentioned will likely be the equivalent of Darren 30 years ago. But if that doesn’t bother you then it is a nice name.

Agreed. I think there are fewer 'timeless' names as well than people realise. Very few babies called George or Jack or Emma or Hannah in my parents' generation as they were old folks' names. No Arthurs or Jacks or Josephs in my year at school. There's a relatively short list of names i really couldn't date, and it excludes a fair few traditional names.

Arlo - was a hip name about 15 years ago. Now overused.
Arthur - ok but very popular
Maxwell - I like Max
James - Love it but it's a boring middle name.

I have an Arlo and couldn’t imagine him as anything else 🥰 he’s the only Arlo in his school

Ah, if Jacob is definitely set as the middle name (lovely choice btw) then you can’t really have James as the first as they are basically the same name -various different translations of the Hebrew original over time meant we eventually got the two variants. Unfortunately the link is too well known imo, for example the rule of James I is known as the “Jacobean Era” etc.

But I do think Samuel, Thomas and William have a very similar feel to James if that helps - perhaps it’s the repeated “am” letters! (although any of the other names in the timeless classic list would work well too).

Tbh Arthur is nearly as faddy as Arlo - although I suppose with Arthur you do at least have the rich history (King Arthur etc) and do meet the occasional older Arthur.

BUT most names are subject to fads. If you want a boys name that’s completely timeless/non faddy you either have to go for something quite unusual (but then might risk spelling or pronunciation issues or DS just disliking having a name that stands out); or go for something eternally popular -ie. always in the Top 100 (in England at least), in which case you are limited to James, George, William, Edward, Alexander, Thomas, Joseph, Daniel, Michael or David afaik. Or maybe fellow classic names like Samuel, Benjamin, Henry etc that have only occasionally dropped in popularity so many people might still think of them as less faddy.

Personally I prefer popular but timeless names so I’d definitely go for James of your picks, but everyone has different tastes and others would just choose the name they like the sound of best and not worry if it dates their child. Horses for courses.

I also think it will date - see here: Baby name explorer. But does this matter?

Arlo has always reminded me of Harlequin (Arlecchino in Italian), but I might be alone in that. I was surprised to learn that it's actually an English name, which goes back a few hundred years at least.

I know 3 Arlos but they are 7-10 years old now. It is a bit of a trendy name but if you love- use!

I think calling a child Jasper is pretty brave. I can think of a couple of fictional Jaspers but I have been teaching for 30+ years and have never met a Jasper in RL so it must be fairly unusual.

Arlo's gone from 0 babies 30 years ago to 20 babies 20 years ago to 600 babies 10 years ago to 2000+ a year. It's gone from basically not being a name to being top 10 - I think it will fall off again soon and be very much a 'Darren' of it's time.

I started meeting baby Arlos when my oldest was a baby and they are now adults.

I know 2 who are young adults from the time it was outside the top 300, so still pretty popular hence knowing 2 but not one in every class popular.

now it’s a top 20 name so it will likely date yes and there is a high chance of knowing others. No problem if that doesn’t bother you

I would hand called my kids Piper and Arlo if I had been brave. They are called Elizabeth and Jasper.

Yeah, tis a faddy name sorry

Arthur (which I love) has been done to death lately and James is just generally overused

If this bothers you these aren't for you

Maybe..

Arnold/Arnie
Alistair
Atticus
Laurence/Laurie
Francis
Jacob
Hugo
Jonathan

Arlo already seems dated to me. So, yes, from my point of view, a faddish name. I much prefer all your other names.

It seems to be more common for dogs nowadays. I don’t know what nickname you would have for it, as it is quite a short name already.

James is definitely a much better choice.

I think that Arlo is a nice name but one that will date. It seems to be rising in popularity but I imagine that at some point, it will peak and then start to decline.

Many names end up being associated with a particular generation. Objectively, that's neither a good nor a bad thing; it's just personal preference whether or not you mind that.

It’s already dated IMO. You’re 5 years too late if you want it to feel fresh, a generation too early if you want it to feel classic. Love Maxwell!

Arla do dairy products and Alpro do non dairy plant milks

Perhaps they’d sponsor an infant with their name?

No.
Sounds like a dairy brand.
? Irish butter ?

isnt it a brand of milk?

No.
Sounds like a dairy brand

Arlo is definitely a current/trendy name so will probably date a bit, but I'm not sure that matters if you love it.

I'm not sure why you need to think up a nickname though? If you love Arlo so much, call him Arlo! Otherwise what's the point. Something like Pumpkin or Chopsy or Smoosh will come about naturally when he's a baby, nothing that needs to be pre-decided.

I don’t think it matters if it goes out of fashion - most names do (we can’t all be called the same few timeless classics or the world would be over run with James's and Elizabeth’s!) I’d pick Arlo if it’s the name you love

I think Arlo is indeed a name that will date.

Your alternatives all have sticking power.