Arlo — Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

Arlo is a boys' name of English origin, meaning "fortified hill". Woody Guthrie's real first name — folk-music cool with hilltop roots.

Style & feel. With modern and short on its style card, Arlo sits comfortably in the modern naming landscape — familiar enough that nobody misreads it, distinctive enough that your child won't share it with three classmates. At 2 syllables, it flows across most middle-name combinations and survives every life stage from playground to résumé.

Pairing ideas. Arlo pairs naturally with one- and two-syllable middles (Milo, Leo share its sound-world). If you like Arlo, you'll probably also love Milo, Leo, Gus — same era, same energy, same bone structure.