Meaning & Origin
Arlan is a boy's baby name of Irish or possibly Gaelic origin, related to Arlen, which may derive from the Irish arlainn, meaning 'pledge' or 'oath,' or from a place name. It has been used in the United States since the early 20th century as a straightforward, solid name.
With over 3,000 recorded births in U.S. SSA data, Arlan has quiet but real American roots. Its clean two-syllable structure and the slightly uncommon "-lan" ending give it a character that is both familiar and distinctive — a name that has never been trendy enough to date or rare enough to puzzle.