The name Arlington is of American origin, derived from the county seat of Arlington County in Virginia. It means 'having clearings'. The name gained prominence following the American Civil War and has since been used as both a first name and a surname.
The name Arlington has seen fluctuations in its popularity over the years, with a total of 1548 babies named Arlington between 1880 and 2023. While it enjoyed periods of relative popularity, such as in the early 1900s, 1910s, and mid-1920s, it never became particularly common. The highest number of births in a single year was 44 in 1917.