Arvo
A boy's name of Finnish origin with 317 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
a male given name
Arvo is a boy's baby name of Finnish origin, meaning 'value, worth' or 'esteem' — a name that declares the child's importance and significance. It is a traditional Finnish masculine name carrying the concept of worth as a kind of birthright.
The Estonian-born composer Arvo Pärt — creator of the haunting tintinnabuli style and one of the most performed living composers in the world — has given this name extraordinary artistic resonance. For music lovers, Arvo immediately evokes the sublime, minimalist beauty of pieces like Spiegel im Spiegel and Für Alina.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Arvo's final sounds are open, approachable — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Arvo softens that pattern, giving it a more versatile feel.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Arvo's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Arvo has 24+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1909.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 8 | #8806 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 10 | #12384 | ▲ |
| 1960s | 5 | #4104 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 6 | #3381 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 11 | #3595 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 73 | #2948 | ▼ |
| 1910s | 199 | #1355 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 5 | #1466 | — |
The Story of Arvo
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1915, Arvo is a name steeped in history. Boys named Arvo are most likely born between 1909 and 1925.
How rare is Arvo?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Arvo is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1909, peaked in the 1910s with 199 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Arvo by the numbers
- Would fill 7 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(24 years, 1909–2020)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 8 | #8806 |
| 2017 | 5 | #12421 |
| 2016 | 5 | #12347 |
| 1961 | 5 | #4104 |
| 1951 | 6 | #3381 |
| 1936 | 5 | #3574 |
| 1930 | 6 | #3616 |
| 1928 | 5 | #4191 |
| 1926 | 8 | #3149 |
| 1924 | 6 | #3900 |
| 1923 | 11 | #2626 |
| 1922 | 12 | #2498 |
| 1921 | 13 | #2383 |
| 1920 | 18 | #1891 |
| 1919 | 25 | #1454 |
| 1918 | 21 | #1654 |
| 1917 | 28 | #1293 |
| 1916 | 26 | #1337 |
| 1915 | 43 | #953 |
| 1914 | 22 | #1265 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arvo a boy's or girl's name?
When was Arvo most popular?
How popular is the name Arvo?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1909–2020