Arliss
Primarily a girl's name of American origin with 801 recorded births. Also given to 705 boys.
Meaning & Origin
Parents who choose Arliss tend to be looking for something that feels real but not common — a name with 801 recorded births and a peak of 44 in 1933, enough history to feel legitimate without being ordinary.
The sharp, distinct ending gives Arliss a crisp, modern feel that pairs easily with most surnames.
Arliss is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Arliss is a boy's and girl's baby name of American origin, a surname-style name that may derive from Arless or be related to Arliss, a variant of Arles — from the French city of Arles, famous for its Roman ruins and its association with the painter Van Gogh. The -iss ending gives it a distinctive, slightly formal quality.
Arliss has a vintage American sound — the kind of name heard in old movies and Western fiction, rugged but refined.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Arliss is a girl's name with several decades of recorded use (1919–1994). Its American roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
Though no longer in the top 1,000, Arliss’s 801 recorded births mean it has left a mark. Every name carries the accumulated identity of the people who have worn it — and Arliss has decades of that history.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Arliss has 45+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1919.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | #13626 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 22 | #6307 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 94 | #3766 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 146 | #2495 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 308 | #1375 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 219 | #1875 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 7 | #3847 | — |
The Story of Arliss
A Silent Generation name
Peaking in 1933, Arliss is an elegant vintage name. Girls named Arliss are most likely born between 1923 and 1943.
How rare is Arliss?
With 801 total births on record, Arliss remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1919, peaked in the 1930s with 308 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Arliss by the numbers
- Would fill 17 school buses
- Meeting one Arliss per day would take 2.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(45 years, 1919–1994)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 5 | #13626 |
| 1968 | 5 | #7068 |
| 1965 | 6 | #5844 |
| 1961 | 6 | #5884 |
| 1960 | 5 | #6431 |
| 1959 | 7 | #5060 |
| 1958 | 12 | #3555 |
| 1956 | 12 | #3501 |
| 1955 | 9 | #4083 |
| 1954 | 7 | #4682 |
| 1953 | 13 | #3119 |
| 1952 | 11 | #3381 |
| 1951 | 9 | #3734 |
| 1950 | 14 | #2783 |
| 1949 | 12 | #3008 |
| 1948 | 12 | #2977 |
| 1947 | 13 | #2910 |
| 1946 | 15 | #2485 |
| 1945 | 10 | #2924 |
| 1944 | 16 | #2209 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Arliss as a Boy's Name
Arliss is a true unisex name. As a boy's name, it has 705 recorded births since 1917.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arliss a boy's or girl's name?
When was Arliss most popular?
How popular is the name Arliss?
Can Arliss be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1919–1994