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Home › Baby Names Directory › Arlan

Arlan

♂ Boy

Pronounced AR-lan /ˈær.læn/Medium

Meaning: Male dog, predatorMedium

In 30 seconds: Arlan is a Kazakh boy's name meaning 'male dog' or 'predator.'
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Origin MediumKazakh
MeaningMale dog, predator
U.S. rank (2025)#2392 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births57 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1936
Total births (all-time)≈ 3,434

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 193619122025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

In Kazakh, Arlan refers to a male dog and, by extension, a predator, an image tied to strength and the hunt. The data gives no alternate spellings, so the name stands on this direct meaning.

It carries a forceful, animal-rooted sense that sets it apart from softer names of similar length.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Arlan is 'male dog, predator', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 70%
Behind the Name - Arlan — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Arlan Stangeland (1930-2013)
    U.S. Representative from Minnesota who served from 1977 to 1991

If you like Arlan…

Kaiyr— a fellow Kazakh choice
Aahan— lands in the same popularity range
Ilan— lands in the same popularity range
Ewan— the same nature feel
Luan— the same nature feel

Explore names like Arlan

By themenaturekazakh

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Arlan mean?

Arlan is usually explained as meaning 'male dog, predator' and is most often linked with Kazakh tradition.

How do you pronounce Arlan?

It's commonly said AR-lan /ˈær.læn/.

Is Arlan a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Arlan is used as a boy name.

How popular is Arlan?

In 2024, Arlan ranked #2745 in the U.S. for boys, with 47 births recorded.

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