Arlys
A girl's name of German origin with 1,103 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Arlys is a two-syllable girl's name with a sharp, distinct sound — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. With 1,103 recorded U.S. births since 1917, it sits in a sweet spot: recognizable enough to be a real name, uncommon enough to turn heads.
Arlys is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Arlys is a girl's baby name of German origin, a variant of Arlene or Arlis — possibly from the Old High German adal (noble) elements or from the Celtic arlin (pledge, promise), meaning 'noble pledge' or 'oath.' The -ys ending gives it a distinctive, slightly unusual written form.
Arlys sits in the mid-century American naming tradition of short, melodic feminine names with -ys or -is endings — Lois, Doris, Phyllis — that felt both classical and distinctly modern. It was most popular in the 1930s through 1950s.
EtymologyShow more
Arlys is cataloged under the German naming tradition. Germanic names have ancient roots in compound constructions — typically pairing elements meaning things like 'strength,' 'counsel,' 'fame,' or 'protection.'
In the U.S., Arlys has been recorded as a girl's name since 1917, with 1,103 total births. Browse the German names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Arlys has 47+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1917.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 32 | #5778 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 174 | #3114 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 301 | #1606 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 384 | #1165 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 191 | #2228 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 21 | #3210 | — |
The Story of Arlys
A Silent Generation name
Peaking in 1933, Arlys is an elegant vintage name. Girls named Arlys are most likely born between 1923 and 1943.
How rare is Arlys?
With 1,103 total births on record, Arlys remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1917, peaked in the 1930s with 384 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Arlys by the numbers
- Would fill 23 school buses
- Meeting one Arlys per day would take 3 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(47 years, 1917–1965)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 5 | #6597 |
| 1963 | 5 | #6654 |
| 1962 | 9 | #4553 |
| 1961 | 6 | #5885 |
| 1960 | 7 | #5199 |
| 1959 | 5 | #6296 |
| 1958 | 12 | #3556 |
| 1957 | 13 | #3323 |
| 1956 | 10 | #3923 |
| 1955 | 15 | #2981 |
| 1954 | 18 | #2594 |
| 1953 | 14 | #2930 |
| 1952 | 34 | #1683 |
| 1951 | 33 | #1667 |
| 1950 | 20 | #2190 |
| 1949 | 36 | #1544 |
| 1948 | 33 | #1621 |
| 1947 | 30 | #1754 |
| 1946 | 30 | #1620 |
| 1945 | 14 | #2343 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arlys a boy's or girl's name?
When was Arlys most popular?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1917–1965