Total births
1,586
Unisex name · since 1880
Arlington
Arlington has 1,586 recorded births since 1880 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1917 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #4577
- among boys today
- 1,586
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 68%
- more common than other boys
1,586 babies have been named Arlington since 1880, making it today's #4577 unisex name.
Social Security Administration records show Arlington recorded 1,586 times among boys since 1880, holding rank #4577 nationally today, ahead of 68% of boys, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 2025.
- #4577 among boys today
- 1,586 born since 1880
- 1920s peak decade
- 68% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Arlington is currently the #4577 unisex name in America, more common than 68% of boys - 1,586 born since 1880, peaking in the 1920s.
- #4577
- among boys today
- 1,586
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 68%
- more common than other boys
Arlington vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#4577
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 68% of names given to boys today.
1920s
Peak decade
16% of everyone ever named Arlington was born in this single decade.
1917
Single peak year
44 babies were named Arlington in 1917 - its busiest year on record.
How Arlington compares
1,586 Top 24% higher than 76% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Arlington's all-time total is 4x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Arlington | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,586 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 44 | 23 | 22,252 |
Arlington's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Arlington's full recorded timeline at 1955, 38% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 62% in the earlier half -- the name was more prevalent in its earlier era than it is today. Its quietest year on record was 1881, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1917 peak of 44 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Arlington at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1917
Current rank
#4,577
Active since
1880
Arlington popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–2025
- Peak year (1917)
- 44
- Annual births at peak, across 146 years of records
Arlington popularity over time - girls
115 total births recorded since 2011 (Arlington as girls' name)
Arlington by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Arlington's strongest decade.
261 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 16% of all-time use.
Arlington births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 42
1880s
42 births
- 1890s 24
1890s
24 births
- 1900s 35
1900s
35 births
- 1910s
1910s
244 births
- 1920s
1920s
261 births
- 1930s
1930s
181 births
- 1940s
1940s
146 births
- 1950s
1950s
114 births
- 1960s 73
1960s
73 births
- 1970s 67
1970s
67 births
- 1980s 67
1980s
67 births
- 1990s 62
1990s
62 births
- 2000s 45
2000s
45 births
- 2010s
2010s
114 births
- 2020s
2020s
111 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 261 births (16% of all-time use).
How Arlington compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Arlington's total volume
Arlington vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Arlington by state
Where Arlington concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pennsylvania | | 174 | 11.0% |
| #2 | New York | | 44 | 2.8% |
Pennsylvania share of Arlington's total US births 11.0%
Even split
174 of 1,586 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Arlington? ▼
Arlington has been given to 1,586 babies in the U.S. since 1880, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #4577 as of the latest data. 44 babies were born in 1917, its single highest year.
When was Arlington most popular? ▼
Arlington was most popular in the 1920s decade with 261 total births. The single peak year was 1917.
Where is Arlington most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Arlington are Pennsylvania (174 births), New York (44 births).
Is Arlington a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Arlington is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 1,586 births, and as a girl's name it has 115 births.
How long has the name Arlington been used? ▼
Records for Arlington go back to 1880, giving 146 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Arlington? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Arlo, Arlen, Arlie, Arlin, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Arlington's data
- Arlington's usage has stayed within range of its 1920s decade-level peak (261 total births) through the 2020s (111) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- Pennsylvania records the most Arlingtons (174 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Pennsylvania names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Arlington
Nearby Names Like Arlington
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Arlington
Arlo Boy
#146 24,245 births
Arlen Boy
#1692 7,345 births
Arlie Boy
#5070 6,712 births
Arlin Boy
#2426 4,072 births
Arley Boy
#2062 3,648 births
Compare Arlington side by side: Arlington vs Arlo Arlington vs Arlen Arlington vs Arlie
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Arlington
Sid #4576
3,007 births · Peak 1960
Soloman #4578
1,679 births · Peak 1999
Gabe #4575
4,110 births · Peak 2005
Gardner #4579
3,016 births · Peak 1915
Tommie #4574
34,446 births · Peak 1947
Matthews #4580
1,605 births · Peak 1988
Merle #4573
30,666 births · Peak 1925
Odell #4581
14,883 births · Peak 1922
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1880–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Arlington: #4577 Unisex Name - 1,586 Births, Peak 1917." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/arlington. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Arlington draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.