Harlan
Boy name · #617 in 2025 · Rare
In 2025, 454 baby boys were named Harlan, placing it at #617 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #822, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,965 boys born in 2025 was named Harlan.
Babies named Harlan per year. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Harlan first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1924, when 519 boys were named Harlan — good for #253 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Harlan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Harlan in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Harlan is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Harlan will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Harlan is most common
Geography matters for names, and Harlan is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Harlan is most common in KY (1.3 per 1,000), MN (0.9 per 1,000), IA (0.7 per 1,000), MO (0.6 per 1,000), TN (0.5 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.3 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Harlan is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Harlan
Statistically, parents drawn to Harlan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Hollis, Arlan, Sylvan, Harvey, and Emory.
HollisArlanSylvanHarveyEmoryHarrisWilsonMonroe
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Harlan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 454 | #617 |
| 2024 | 412 | #665 |
| 2023 | 418 | #653 |
| 2022 | 357 | #727 |
| 2021 | 433 | #638 |
| 2020 | 368 | #692 |
| 2019 | 278 | #818 |
| 2018 | 319 | #744 |
| 2017 | 297 | #788 |
| 2016 | 274 | #829 |
| 2015 | 275 | #822 |
| 2014 | 224 | #938 |
| 2013 | 252 | #845 |
| 2012 | 178 | #1065 |
| 2011 | 160 | #1132 |
| 2010 | 157 | #1168 |
| 2009 | 142 | #1250 |
| 2008 | 125 | #1361 |
| 2007 | 89 | #1700 |
| 2006 | 88 | #1627 |
| 2005 | 69 | #1854 |
| 2004 | 58 | #2051 |
| 2003 | 68 | #1764 |
| 2002 | 66 | #1744 |
| 2001 | 63 | #1777 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Harlan a popular boy name?
Harlan ranked #617 among boys in 2025 with 454 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #822.
When was the name Harlan most popular?
Harlan peaked in 1924, when 519 American boys received the name (ranked #253 that year). Since 1924 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Harlan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,965 newborn American boys was named Harlan. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.