Harlem

Harlem - A very unique male name

Harlem appeared on the charts for the first time in 2005 on position #3838. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Harlem and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Harlem? 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 Harlem. The baby boy name Harlem was given to 193 baby boys in 2025, ranking #962 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 7,597 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Harlem peaked in popularity 7 years ago in 2019 on position 863.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Harlem, 1-5?

Harlem is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Harlem is currently topping the baby name charts in Mississippi at position #383 - and is the least popular in Florida at position #1,392.

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 Harlem is where you live.

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Harlem origin and meaning

Place name — Harlem, New York, from Haarlem, Netherlands

A transferred place name; Dutch Haarlem's own elements are usually interpreted as 'home on a wooded height' or similar

Harlem, New York, was named for the Dutch city of Haarlem in the 17th century, and the neighbourhood's towering cultural legacy — above all the Harlem Renaissance — is what the name carries. As a boy's first name it appears from 2005 and peaked in 2023. It is a place transfer, chosen for resonance rather than etymology.

Origin uncertain

Harlem is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Harlem

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

Harlan / 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 Harlem

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 Harlem 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 Harlem?

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-lem · /ˈhɑːrləm/

Around the world

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

Famous bearers

None yet — the name first appears in the data in 2005, and its oldest bearers are still young.

Style

Place name

Why parents choose it

Harlem is chosen for its cultural power — music, poetry, Black American history — in a strong two-syllable form. It remains uncommon and makes a deliberate statement.

Worth knowing

• The place association is total: expect people to assume a New York or family connection.