Tarl

Meaning & origin

Tarl is an exceptionally rare given name in the United States. It first appeared in Social Security Administration records in 1973, and its usage peaked in 1978, though it has never been common enough to rank among the top 1000 names. The name's trajectory is stable, meaning it has not experienced a significant rise or decline in popularity. Because it has never been recorded in enough numbers to calculate a one-in-N frequency or to identify top states, its geographic distribution remains unknown. Tarl's origins are uncertain; it may be an Anglicized short form of the Irish name Turlough or a variant of the Armenian Tarlan. Despite its obscurity, the name has a straightforward pronunciation and a concise, strong sound. Given its rarity, parents choosing Tarl are opting for a name that is both distinctive and steeped in ambiguity.

Tarl is a rare name of uncertain derivation. It may be a simplified form of Turlough, the Anglicized version of the Irish name Toirdhealbhach, meaning 'one who helps' or 'inciter.' Alternatively, it could be a modern coinage or a variant of Tarlan, an Armenian name. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1973 but has never ranked among popular names.