How Many People Are Named Harlan?

Complete statistics for the name Harlan: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Harlan
Rare
Old English

Harlan means 'army hill' and has a very rare charm, with only 1 in 24,682 Americans sharing this name. That's just 13,370 people today, making it truly unique. The majority, 67%, are over 60, giving it an older-generation feel.

~10,446
Living in US
1 in 31,730
Americans
1924
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Army hill
🌐
Origin
Old English
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 9
Personality Traits
Determined Strong Resilient
9
Life Path Number

People with the life path number 9 are often seen as compassionate and philanthropic.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

13,370
Worldwide Bearers
#29,581
Global Rank
🇿🇦 South Africa
33
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England
33
🇵🇪 Peru
33
🇨🇴 Colombia
28
🇻🇪 Venezuela
26
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
25
🇨🇱 Chile
13
🇦🇺 Australia
12
🇲🇽 Mexico
10
🇳🇱 Netherlands
9

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
12,917 (97%)
♀ Female
453 (3%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 68
5,894
Would be under 30 (22%)
2,754
Would be 30–60 (10%)
17,833
Would be over 60 (67%)

All 26,481 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1924

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
98
Classic Feel
97
Modern Appeal
23
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Harlan Through the Generations

Harlan peaked in popularity back in 1924 with 519 births, but it's still holding steady, showing a rising trend as a classic, old-school name. Today, there are 13,370 people named Harlan living in the US, with a notable age split: 5,894 under 30, 2,754 aged 30-60, and 17,833 over 60. This distribution paints a picture of a name that's been around for generations, with a significant portion of its bearers now in their senior years.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

Minnesota 1,714
Iowa 1,642
California 1,481
Illinois 1,291
Texas 1,193
Ohio 1,080
Wisconsin 1,064
Kentucky 996
New York 848
Nebraska 811

✨ Similar Names to Harlan

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Harlan's Old English roots

📄 About the Name Harlan

How Many People Have the Name Harlan?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 10,446 people in the United States currently share the name Harlan. That works out to roughly 1 in every 31,730 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.

Is Harlan a Common or Rare Name?

Harlan is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Harlan Mean?

Harlan means "army hill" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 9.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Harlan in SSA data, approximately 97% are male and 3% are female.

When Was Harlan Most Popular?

The name Harlan reached peak popularity in 1924, with 519 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Harlan?

Approximately 10,446 people named Harlan live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 10,446. That works out to roughly 1 in 31,730 Americans.

Is Harlan a rare name?

Harlan is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 31,730 Americans has this name.

What does the name Harlan mean?

Harlan means "army hill" and comes from Old English origins.

Is Harlan more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 97% of people named Harlan are male and 3% are female.

When was Harlan most popular?

Harlan peaked in 1924 with 519 births that year. Current trend: Rising.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US10,446
All-Time Births10,446
1 in X1 in 31,730
RarityRare
GenderMale
Avg Age68
Peak Year1924
World Rank#29,581
Male %97%
Female %3%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.