Arbor
Primarily a girl's name of Latin origin with 380 recorded births. Also given to 222 boys.
Meaning & Origin
a male given name
Arbor is a boy's and girl's baby name of Latin origin, from the Latin arbor meaning 'tree' — the fundamental symbol of life, growth, rootedness, and the canopy of shelter that trees provide for all living things.
Arbor Day — celebrated annually since 1872 — gave the word a specific American civic resonance. As a given name, Arbor has the nature-name purity of Grove or Forest but with a more unusual Latin origin. It's a name that declares the child to be both deeply rooted and outward-reaching.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Arbor belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their strong, decisive ending — carrying a Latin or Old English feel. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.
Within the Latin naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Latin names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Arbor’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Arbor has 16+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 2007.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 145 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 230 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 5 | — |
The Story of Arbor
A Gen Alpha name
Peaking in 2016, Arbor is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Arbor are most likely born between 2007 and 2024.
How rare is Arbor?
Only about 1 in every 124,138 babies born in 2024 was named Arbor — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 2007, peaked in the 2010s with 230 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.
Arbor by the numbers
- Would fill 8 school buses
- Meeting one Arbor per day would take 1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(16 years, 2007–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 29 | #4660 |
| 2023 | 36 | #4054 |
| 2022 | 31 | #4481 |
| 2021 | 17 | #6718 |
| 2020 | 32 | #4274 |
| 2019 | 36 | #4019 |
| 2018 | 26 | #5017 |
| 2017 | 30 | #4590 |
| 2016 | 43 | #3592 |
| 2015 | 25 | #5302 |
| 2014 | 17 | #7019 |
| 2013 | 17 | #7079 |
| 2012 | 20 | #6364 |
| 2011 | 10 | #10465 |
| 2010 | 6 | #15159 |
| 2007 | 5 | #17911 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Arbor as a Boy's Name
Though more common for girls, Arbor has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 222 births since 1915.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arbor a boy's or girl's name?
When was Arbor most popular?
How popular is the name Arbor?
Can Arbor be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 2007–2024