Barlow

At a Glance

Meaning

Barley hill or barley clearing

Origin

Old English (place name/surname)

Gender

Primarily used for boys

Pronunciation

BAR-lohListen

Barlow is an Old English name rooted in place and surname use, built from words meaning 'barley hill' or 'barley clearing.' You may see it claimed that Barlow means 'from the bare hill' — that mixes up the Old English word for barley with the modern word 'bare,' so it's not accurate. The real meaning ties the name to land used for growing barley.

Meaning & Origin of Barlow

Meaning: Barley hill or barley clearing.

Origin: Old English (place name/surname).

A common claim: Often said to mean 'from the bare hill.' Actually: This mixes up Old English bere ('barley') with the modern word 'bare' — the place name actually means roughly 'barley hill' or 'barley clearing,' not a treeless 'bare' hill.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Barlow

Popularity of Barlow

Barlow peaked at #2545 on the SSA list in 1953, with 10 babies given the name that year, and by 2024 it had fallen to #9061 with a count of 8.

Names Like Barlow

These names have followed a similar path to Barlow in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Baird
• Brick
• Cathleen
• Christophe
• Court
• Danil

FAQ

What does the name Barlow mean?

Barley hill or barley clearing. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Barlow?

Barlow is pronounced BAR-loh (IPA: /ˈbɑːrloʊ/).

Is Barlow a popular name right now?

Barlow peaked at #2545 in 1953 and is ranked #9061 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1917–2024.)

Make Barlow Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Barlow, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.