Arlington is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin. It is derived from the county of Arlington, which is located in the state of Virginia. The county was named after Henry Bennet, the Earl of Arlington, who served as the Secretary of State for England during the reign of King Charles II.
The meaning behind the name Arlington is not explicitly defined, but it can be associated with several possible interpretations. One interpretation suggests that Arlington means "clear" or "pure", which could refer to the clear waters of the Potomac River that flow through the county. Another interpretation connects Arlington with the idea of "strength" or "power", as the name Bennet comes from the Old English words 'beorn' and 'heafod', which together mean "strong lord".
The history of the name Arlington is deeply rooted in American history and politics. As mentioned earlier, the county was named after Henry Bennet, the Earl of Arlington, who played a significant role in the political landscape of England during the 17th century. However, it wasn't until much later that the name Arlington began to be used as a given name.
The use of Arlington as a given name became more popular in the United States during the mid-20th century. It is believed that this trend was influenced by the establishment of Arlington National Cemetery, which is located within Arlington County and serves as the final resting place for many American soldiers who have died while serving their country.
In conclusion, Arlington is a unique and distinctive given name of American origin, derived from the county of Arlington in Virginia. While its meaning is not explicitly defined, it can be associated with interpretations such as "clear" or "pure", or "strength" or "power". The history of the name Arlington is deeply rooted in American history and politics, and its use as a given name became more popular in the United States during the mid-20th century. Despite its unique origins and meaning, Arlington remains relatively rare as a given name, making it a distinctive choice for parents looking for an uncommon yet significant name for their child.
Arlington is a unique and uncommon name, with only a total of 101 babies being named Arlington over the span of twelve years from 2011 to 2023 in the United States.
The popularity of this name has fluctuated over time. It was first used in 2011, when six baby boys were named Arlington. The following year saw an increase in its usage with ten births being recorded. However, there was a decline in its popularity in 2014 with only six babies being named Arlington.
The years 2015 to 2017 showed a consistent popularity for the name Arlington, with eight, ten and ten births respectively. This consistency was broken in 2018 where only five babies were named Arlington. However, there has been an upward trend since then, with thirteen, seven, six and fourteen births recorded from 2019 to 2023.
Despite its fluctuations in popularity, Arlington remains a distinctive name that stands out due to its rarity. It is important to note that while the number of births for this name may be low, each child named Arlington has unique qualities that make them special regardless of their name's statistical prevalence.