Harley
Boy name · #1081 in 2025 · Uniqueness 74/100
Harley ranks #1081 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 199 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #653, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 9,045 boys born in 2025 was named Harley.
The 145-year story
Harley first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 70 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1994, when 789 boys were named Harley — good for #322 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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.
Babies named Harley per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Harley against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Harley in class?
Harley scores 74 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Harley will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Harley is most common
Geography matters for names, and Harley is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Harleys were CA (23), TX (16), FL (15), OK (11), OH (10). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Harley
Statistically, parents drawn to Harley tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Trey, Kasey, Bailey, Hernan, and Kody.
TreyKaseyBaileyHernanKodyDarianDuncanPresley
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Harley | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 199 | #1081 |
| 2024 | 219 | #1019 |
| 2023 | 221 | #997 |
| 2022 | 253 | #913 |
| 2021 | 247 | #920 |
| 2020 | 300 | #781 |
| 2019 | 286 | #802 |
| 2018 | 300 | #772 |
| 2017 | 401 | #646 |
| 2016 | 379 | #674 |
| 2015 | 395 | #653 |
| 2014 | 411 | #639 |
| 2013 | 403 | #616 |
| 2012 | 384 | #632 |
| 2011 | 370 | #632 |
| 2010 | 449 | #563 |
| 2009 | 465 | #568 |
| 2008 | 422 | #595 |
| 2007 | 419 | #600 |
| 2006 | 498 | #518 |
| 2005 | 487 | #505 |
| 2004 | 560 | #461 |
| 2003 | 615 | #417 |
| 2002 | 581 | #428 |
| 2001 | 529 | #458 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Harley a popular boy name?
Harley ranked #1081 among boys in 2025 with 199 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #653.
When was the name Harley most popular?
Harley peaked in 1994, when 789 American boys received the name (ranked #322 that year). Since 1994 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Harley?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 9,045 newborn American boys was named Harley. It scores 74/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify 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.