Total births
1,972
Unisex name · since 1906
Arlis
Arlis has 1,972 recorded births since 1906 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1931 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #5079
- among boys today
- 1,972
- born since 1906
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 64%
- more common than other boys
1,972 babies have been named Arlis since 1906, making it today's #5079 unisex name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Arlis has been recorded 1,972 times among boys since 1906, currently ranked #5079 nationally and more common than 64% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 1930s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1906 to 2025.
- #5079 among boys today
- 1,972 born since 1906
- 1930s peak decade
- 64% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Arlis is currently the #5079 unisex name in America, more common than 64% of boys - 1,972 born since 1906, peaking in the 1930s.
- #5079
- among boys today
- 1,972
- born since 1906
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 64%
- more common than other boys
Arlis vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#5079
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 64% of names given to boys today.
1930s
Peak decade
20% of everyone ever named Arlis was born in this single decade.
1931
Single peak year
48 babies were named Arlis in 1931 - its busiest year on record.
How Arlis compares
1,972 Top 21% higher than 79% 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
Arlis's all-time total is 5x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Arlis | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,972 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 48 | 23 | 22,252 |
Arlis's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Arlis's SSA record in two at 1963 and the more recent half accounts for 27% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 73%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1906, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1931 peak of 48, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Arlis at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1931
Current rank
#5,079
Active since
1906
Arlis popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1906–2025
- Peak year (1931)
- 48
- Annual births at peak, across 120 years of records
Arlis popularity over time - girls
797 total births recorded since 1910 (Arlis as girls' name)
Arlis by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1930s was Arlis's strongest decade.
388 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 20% of all-time use.
Arlis births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 5
1900s
5 births
- 1910s 147
1910s
147 births
- 1920s
1920s
348 births
- 1930s
1930s
388 births
- 1940s
1940s
314 births
- 1950s
1950s
194 births
- 1960s 126
1960s
126 births
- 1970s 79
1970s
79 births
- 1980s 56
1980s
56 births
- 1990s 57
1990s
57 births
- 2000s 48
2000s
48 births
- 2010s 110
2010s
110 births
- 2020s 100
2020s
100 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 388 births (20% of all-time use).
How Arlis 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 Arlis's total volume
Arlis vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Arlis by state
Where Arlis concentrates geographically, total births since 1906
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Arkansas | | 158 | 8.0% |
| #2 | Kentucky | | 120 | 6.1% |
| #3 | Texas | | 77 | 3.9% |
| #4 | Oklahoma | | 54 | 2.7% |
| #5 | Tennessee | | 17 | 0.9% |
| #6 | Louisiana | | 5 | 0.3% |
| #7 | West Virginia | | 5 | 0.3% |
Arkansas share of Arlis's total US births 8.0%
Even split
158 of 1,972 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Arlis? ▼
Arlis has been given to 1,972 babies in the U.S. since 1906, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #5079 as of the latest data. 48 babies were born in 1931, its single highest year.
When was Arlis most popular? ▼
Arlis was most popular in the 1930s decade with 388 total births. The single peak year was 1931.
Where is Arlis most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Arlis are Arkansas (158 births), Kentucky (120 births), Texas (77 births).
Is Arlis a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Arlis is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 1,972 births, and as a girl's name it has 797 births.
How long has the name Arlis been used? ▼
Arlis has been recorded in Social Security data since 1906, spanning 120 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Arlis? ▼
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 Arlis's data
- Arlis's decade-level peak was the 1930s (388 total births); usage has since declined to 100 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Arkansas records the most Arliss (158 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Arkansas 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 Arlis
Nearby Names Like Arlis
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Arlis
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 Arlis side by side: Arlis vs Arlo Arlis vs Arlen Arlis vs Arlie
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Arlis
Griffith #5078
1,550 births · Peak 1918
Anselmo #5080
2,748 births · Peak 1990
Ivo #5077
849 births · Peak 1922
Aldon #5081
1,618 births · Peak 1929
Dannie #5076
9,137 births · Peak 1953
Zenon #5082
1,276 births · Peak 1954
Rexford #5075
2,648 births · Peak 1925
Cosimo #5083
1,016 births · Peak 1927
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, 1906–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Arlis: #5079 Unisex Name - 1,972 Births, Peak 1931." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/arlis. 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 Arlis 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.