Arlette
/aʁ.lɛt/
Arlette is a French diminutive form of names built on the Old German elements arn (“eagle”) and -ette (French feminine diminutive suffix). It is related to Arlene, Arla, and ultimately to the Germanic root behind names like Arnold.
Historically, Arlette was the name of the mother of William the Conqueror—a Norman woman, sometimes described as a tanner’s daughter or a noblewoman, whose union with Duke Robert I of Normandy produced one of history’s most consequential figures.
Arlette is at its all-time US peak: No. 584 in 2024 with 516 births. The name has only just entered the SSA top 1000 in this year.
What the name Arlette means
This debut in SSA data likely reflects the broader fashion for French-sounding diminutive names with -ette endings—Colette, Juliette, Scarlett, Violette—which have all charted strongly in the 2020s.
Three syllables—ar-LET—end with a crisp French stop. The name carries an inherent French elegance from its -ette suffix while still being pronounceable without difficulty for English speakers.
Parents drawn to Arlette often appreciate its combination of the Norman historical resonance, the French chic of its ending, and the fact that it remains rare enough to feel distinctive.
Related names include Arlene (English version, mid-century American popular), Arla, Arielle (with different roots), and the French Arlette forms used across Belgium and Québec.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Arlette
Arlette - similar names
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