What Does the Name Arlo Mean?
Arlo is commonly glossed as meaning "endless energy," though etymologists note the true origin is unclear. Some trace it as a shortened form of Carlo (the Italian form of Charles) or Orlando, both ultimately from Germanic roots meaning "free man" or "famous land."
The Origin & History of Arlo
One of the earliest recorded uses of Arlo is as the name of a hill in Edmund Spenser's 1596 poem The Faerie Queene, where the poet appears to have coined it. The name saw scattered use afterward before its modern revival as a given name.
Cultural Reach
Arlo gained real cultural visibility through American folk singer Arlo Guthrie, son of Woody Guthrie, known for "Alice's Restaurant" and for carrying forward his father's musical legacy — the name has carried an easygoing, folk-music warmth ever since.
Famous People Named Arlo
The name's best-known bearer is Arlo Guthrie, the American folk singer-songwriter, along with a growing number of celebrity children given the name in recent years.
Nicknames & Variations
Arlo is typically used as a complete, standalone name. It is occasionally used for girls as well, though it remains predominantly a boys' name.
Is Arlo a Good Name in 2026?
Arlo has risen quickly in the US, part of a wave of short, vintage-sounding boys' names (alongside Milo and Leo) that feel both old-fashioned and fresh at once.