Harlan

Harlan - A very unique male name

Harlan appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #462. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Harlan and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Harlan? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Harlan. The baby boy name Harlan was given to 422 baby boys in 2025, ranking #613 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 3,475 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Harlan peaked in popularity 102 years ago in 1924 on position 256.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Harlan, 1-5?

Harlan is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Harlan is currently topping the baby name charts in Kentucky at position #207 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #902.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Harlan is where you live.

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Harlan origin and meaning

English surname, from a place name

A transferred surname from an English place name; its elements are debated — 'hare land' and 'rocky land' are both proposed

Harlan is a place-born English surname that became a quiet American given name early in the 20th century. It never entirely vanished, and it is now rising again on the strength of two famous literary Harlans and the fashion for surname names with a frontier feel. The surname's own meaning is not settled, so none is claimed here.

Origin uncertain

Harlan is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Harlan, pop culture references for the name Harlan and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Harlan

We've found the following names that sound similar to Harlan, sorted by popularity.

Harlem / Harland / Harlen / Harlon / Harlin / Haralambos / Harlyn /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Harlan

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Harlan a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Harlan?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

HAR-lun · /ˈhɑːrlən/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Harland — The fuller surname spelling, also used as a given name.
• Harlen — A simplified spelling variant.

Famous bearers

• Harlan Ellison — Prolific science-fiction author and screenwriter (1934–2018) Contemporary
• Harlan Coben — Bestselling thriller novelist, creator of Myron Bolitar (b. 1962) Contemporary

Style

SurnameVintage revival

Why parents choose it

Parents pick Harlan for its rugged, writerly character — an old surname name that has never been overused and is climbing again.

Worth knowing

• It is sometimes misheard as Harland or Harlem, and older relatives may file it under 'grandpa names'.