Arlington is a unique and elegant given name of English origin. It is derived from the Old English words "earl" and "ington," which together mean "estate of an earl." Earls were members of the highest rank in the British nobility, second only to the king, and their estates were often large and impressive.
The name Arlington first came into use as a given name in the 19th century. It was likely inspired by Arlington House, a historic mansion located in Virginia, United States. Arlington House was built by George Washington Parke Custis, who was the stepson of George Washington, the first President of the United States. The estate and its surrounding area were later named Arlington after the name of Custis's family estate in England.
Today, Arlington is still a relatively uncommon given name, but it has been used by some notable individuals throughout history. For example, Arlington Keller was an American football player who played in the NFL during the 1960s and 1970s, and Arlington West is a non-profit organization that sets up displays of empty boots and shoes to honor fallen soldiers.
Overall, the name Arlington has a rich history and elegant sound that makes it a unique and memorable choice for a given name. Its association with the highest rank in the British nobility gives it a sense of prestige and importance, while its connection to American history through Arlington House adds an interesting layer of meaning. Despite being relatively uncommon, Arlington is a distinctive and appealing name that is sure to stand out.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Arlington has seen a varied history of usage in the United States since 1880. The first significant peak in its popularity occurred between 1913 and 1917, with the highest number of births recorded in 1917 at 44.
However, after this peak, the name's usage began to decline steadily until the 1950s. There was a brief resurgence in the late 1950s and early 1960s, with peaks of 13 births in 1962 and 8 births in 1964.
After this period, the name's usage continued to decline until the late 1980s, where it fluctuated between 5 and 14 births per year. In the early 2000s, there was another brief peak with 10 births recorded in 2006.
Since then, the name Arlington has seen a steady increase in its usage, with peaks of 20 births in 2020, 24 births in 2023, and a total of 1548 births since 1880. This recent trend suggests that the name Arlington is gaining popularity once again among parents in the United States.
In conclusion, while the usage of the name Arlington has fluctuated over time, its overall popularity can be seen in its consistent presence in the United States' birth records since 1880.