Arro
A gender-neutral name derived from the Spanish word "arroyo" meaning "brook" or "creek".
Name Census estimates that about 13 living Americans carry the first name Arro. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Arro today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Arro births was 2018 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Arro. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Arro with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Arro. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
13
~ 1 in 26,365,718 Americans
Peak year
2018
7 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2018 SSA rank
#9,757
Tracked since 2016
Popularity
Arro: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Arro by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Arro during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 13 | 0 | 13 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Arro
The given name Arro is a unique and intriguing moniker with a fascinating history that spans continents and cultures. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Basque language, which was spoken in parts of present-day Spain and France. The name Arro is derived from the Basque word "arroa," meaning "root" or "origin," signifying a strong connection to one's ancestral lineage and heritage.
In the early medieval period, the name Arro gained prominence among the Basque people, who were known for their fiercely independent spirit and their rich cultural traditions. It was a name often given to male children as a symbol of strength, resilience, and a deep appreciation for their roots.
While the name Arro does not appear explicitly in any ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been documented in various historical records and chronicles related to the Basque region. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name dates back to the 11th century, when a nobleman named Arro de Navarra was mentioned in a local chronicle for his bravery in battle.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Arro. In the 13th century, Arro de Gipuzkoa was a renowned Basque poet and troubadour whose works celebrated the beauty of the Basque landscape and the resilience of its people. Another famous bearer of the name was Arro Arizmendi, a 15th-century Basque explorer who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his voyages to the Americas.
In the realm of art and culture, Arro Zuloaga (1870-1945) was a celebrated Basque painter known for his vibrant depictions of traditional Basque life and landscapes. His works are featured in prestigious museums around the world, including the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
More recently, Arro Arteaga (1917-2003) was a prominent Basque writer and scholar who made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of the Basque language and literature. His novels and essays explored themes of identity, cultural heritage, and the struggle for autonomy.
While the name Arro may not be as common today as it once was, it remains a powerful reminder of the rich cultural heritage of the Basque people and their enduring spirit. Its meaning and significance have resonated across generations, serving as a testament to the importance of honoring one's roots and embracing the depths of one's ancestry.
People
Arro + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Arro as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Arro: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Arro?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 13 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Arro going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 26,365,718 US residents.
Is Arro a common name?
We classify Arro as "Very Rare". It ranks above 33.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 13 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Arro most popular?
The single biggest year for Arro was 2018, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Arro is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Arro in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Arro a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Arro in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Arro still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Arro in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Arro can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Arro?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.