Avery
English
“ruler of the elves”
Mostly girls · English
“harp player”
Say it HAR-perPronunciation may vary by region.
A little maybe, saved for later.
The story behind the name
Harper began as an English occupational surname for a person who played the harp. Its musical meaning is literal, making it an option for families drawn to instruments, performance or a musical family connection.
As a first name, Harper keeps the two-syllable rhythm and surname style of other occupational choices. It can stand on its own without a longer formal name or an expected nickname.
A little perspective
Recorded US births over time
| Year | Category | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 1,980 | 77 |
| 2025 | Girls | 16 | 6,792 |
| 2024 | Boys | 1,783 | 92 |
| 2024 | Girls | 12 | 7,394 |
| 2023 | Boys | 1,435 | 127 |
| 2023 | Girls | 11 | 7,799 |
| 2022 | Boys | 1,347 | 139 |
| 2022 | Girls | 11 | 8,227 |
| 2021 | Boys | 1,275 | 149 |
| 2021 | Girls | 10 | 8,448 |
| 2020 | Boys | 1,246 | 149 |
| 2020 | Girls | 10 | 8,849 |
| 2019 | Boys | 1,029 | 202 |
| 2019 | Girls | 9 | 10,497 |
| 2018 | Boys | 973 | 214 |
| 2018 | Girls | 9 | 10,646 |
| 2017 | Boys | 801 | 286 |
| 2017 | Girls | 11 | 10,524 |
| 2016 | Boys | 791 | 299 |
| 2016 | Girls | 11 | 10,803 |
| 2015 | Boys | 724 | 341 |
| 2015 | Girls | 10 | 10,311 |
| 2014 | Boys | 730 | 328 |
| 2014 | Girls | 11 | 9,619 |
Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.
No nicknames are listed yet. The name can stand beautifully on its own.
Keep the possibilities coming
More names with a similar feeling or shared roots.
English
“ruler of the elves”
English, diminutive of Charles, French from Ger…
“free man”
Slavic, Russian
“gracious; dear”
Irish
“descendant of Conn, chief leader, intelligence”
English, Irish
“rye clearing (English); Irish surname origin uncertain”
Italian color name
“orange red”