Harper
Boy name · #1976 in 2025 · Uniqueness 86/100
Harper is currently the #1976 boy name in the United States — 77 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #722, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 23,377 boys born in 2025 was named Harper.
Babies named Harper per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 144-year story
Harper first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 9 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2012, when 416 boys were named Harper — good for #606 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Harper against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Harper in class?
Harper scores 86 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 Harper will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Harper is most common
Geography matters for names, and Harper is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Harpers were NC (8), TX (6), PA (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Harper
Statistically, parents drawn to Harper tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Keller, Kooper, Fischer, Zyler, and Xzavier.
KellerKooperFischerZylerXzavierRhyderOlivierStryker
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Harper | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 77 | #1976 |
| 2024 | 92 | #1776 |
| 2023 | 127 | #1432 |
| 2022 | 139 | #1347 |
| 2021 | 149 | #1273 |
| 2020 | 149 | #1245 |
| 2019 | 202 | #1028 |
| 2018 | 214 | #970 |
| 2017 | 286 | #798 |
| 2016 | 299 | #791 |
| 2015 | 341 | #722 |
| 2014 | 328 | #730 |
| 2013 | 366 | #661 |
| 2012 | 416 | #606 |
| 2011 | 402 | #607 |
| 2010 | 341 | #689 |
| 2009 | 316 | #737 |
| 2008 | 248 | #855 |
| 2007 | 231 | #879 |
| 2006 | 195 | #954 |
| 2005 | 139 | #1150 |
| 2004 | 77 | #1671 |
| 2003 | 72 | #1702 |
| 2002 | 73 | #1636 |
| 2001 | 58 | #1893 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Harper a popular boy name?
Harper ranked #1976 among boys in 2025 with 77 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #722.
When was the name Harper most popular?
Harper peaked in 2012, when 416 American boys received the name (ranked #606 that year). Since 2012 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Harper?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 23,377 newborn American boys was named Harper. It scores 86/100 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.