Harlan
- Meaning
- Hare land
- Origin
- English
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What does Harlan mean?
Harlan means “Hare land”.
Harlan comes through an English surname associated with a place name meaning hare land. That explanation differs from the rocky-land or army-land meanings sometimes attached to it. Its surname background also includes American Supreme Court justice John Marshall Harlan, whose name has been used as an honor name.
Writers Harlan Ellison and Harlan Coben provide recognizable examples of the given name. Harland and Harlen are close spelling comparisons, while Harley and Harlow have their own histories and should not be treated as interchangeable versions. Harlan's two syllables make it complete without a nickname, and the surname connection can carry either family or historical significance.
Nicknames & variations
Explore short forms, spellings, and related names.
Variations & related forms
Related forms and spellings recorded for this name.
How popular is Harlan?
United States · 2025Explore how often Harlan is used and how its ranking has changed.
- US boys rank
- #617 2025 · #1 is most popular
- Boys named Harlan
- 454 Recorded births in 2025
- Change in births
- 10.2% More than 2024
Harlan over time
United States · Boys
Recorded births
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Yearly data & usage
Rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys. The summary highlights boys, the most common recorded usage in 2025. Use the chart’s usage selector to explore both categories.
| Year | Usage | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | #617 | 454 |
| 2025 | Girls | #4,015 | 36 |
| 2024 | Boys | #666 | 412 |
| 2024 | Girls | #3,536 | 44 |
| 2023 | Boys | #654 | 418 |
| 2023 | Girls | #3,243 | 50 |
| 2022 | Boys | #728 | 357 |
| 2022 | Girls | #3,790 | 40 |
| 2021 | Boys | #638 | 433 |
| 2021 | Girls | #3,637 | 42 |
| 2020 | Boys | #692 | 368 |
| 2020 | Girls | #4,390 | 31 |
| 2019 | Boys | #818 | 278 |
| 2019 | Girls | #5,861 | 21 |
| 2018 | Boys | #744 | 319 |
| 2018 | Girls | #5,373 | 24 |
| 2017 | Boys | #788 | 297 |
| 2017 | Girls | #4,251 | 34 |
| 2016 | Boys | #829 | 274 |
| 2016 | Girls | #5,047 | 27 |
| 2015 | Boys | #822 | 275 |
| 2015 | Girls | #4,335 | 33 |
| 2014 | Boys | #942 | 224 |
| 2014 | Girls | #6,074 | 21 |
Years reflect available birth records. Missing records do not mean zero births.
Names like Harlan
Explore the connection, then save your favorites to compare.
James
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Supplanter
Shares an origin with Harlan.
Jack
Mostly boys- Meaning
- God is gracious
Shares an origin with Harlan.
Hudson
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Hugh's son
Shares an origin with Harlan.
Julian
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Uncertain; proposed meanings include youthful or downy-bearded
Shares an origin with Harlan.
Cooper
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Barrel maker
Shares an origin with Harlan.
Jackson
Mostly boys- Meaning
- Son of Jack
Shares an origin with Harlan.
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