Harlan
Harlan: name meaning, origin and popularity
Meaning and origin of Harlan
Root meaning: “grey”
- A male given name transferred from the surname or place name.
Etymology
American contraction of Harland, from Old English har (“grey”) / hara (“hare”) + land (“land”).
How popular is Harlan?
Since 1880, 499 girls and 26,481 boys in the U.S. have been named Harlan (2% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #3243 in 2023. Its highest rank for boys was #253 in 1924. In 2025 it ranked #617 for boys, with 490 babies given the name.
Names similar to Harlan
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Surname boy names
Sibling name ideas for Harlan
Sister and brother names that share Harlan's Surname roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Harlan FAQ
What does the name Harlan mean?
Harlan traces back to a root meaning "grey". A male given name transferred from the surname or place name. American contraction of Harland, from Old English har (“grey”) / hara (“hare”) + land (“land”).
What is the origin of the name Harlan?
Harlan is listed as a name of Surname (transferred from a surname) origin.
How popular is the name Harlan?
Since 1880, 499 girls and 26,481 boys in the U.S. have been named Harlan (2% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #3243 in 2023. Its highest rank for boys was #253 in 1924. In 2025 it ranked #617 for boys, with 490 babies given the name.
Is Harlan a boy or girl name?
Harlan is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 499 girls and 26,481 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.