gender neutral
Harlan
rocky land, army land
About Harlan
Sturdy and dependable, Harlan evokes images of heartland values and unpretentious strength. This name has experienced renewed interest among parents seeking alternatives to overused classics without venturing into unfamiliar territory. The two-syllable structure provides balance—substantial enough to stand alone while pairing well with various middle and last names. Harlan suggests someone grounded and practical, yet the name also carries literary and artistic associations that prevent it from feeling one-dimensional. The vintage quality gives it character without feeling dated, as names from previous generations cycle back into contemporary favor. Parents who choose Harlan often appreciate its straightforward masculinity without aggressive overtones, wanting a name that's strong but not overbearing. The lack of obvious nicknames means your son will likely use his full name throughout life, maintaining the integrity of your choice. Harlan works equally well in rural communities and urban settings, never feeling geographically limited or culturally confined. This name represents the sweet spot between familiar and distinctive that many parents seek.
Popularity of the Name Harlan
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #707 | ||||
| 1881 | #492 | ||||
| 1882 | #726 | ||||
| 1883 | #957 | ||||
| 1884 | #513 | ||||
| 1885 | #618 | ||||
| 1886 | #559 | ||||
| 1887 | #711 | ||||
| 1888 | #538 | ||||
| 1889 | #510 | ||||
| 1890 | #547 | ||||
| 1891 | #728 | ||||
| 1892 | #616 | ||||
| 1893 | #675 | ||||
| 1894 | #489 | ||||
| 1895 | #621 | ||||
| 1896 | #653 | ||||
| 1897 | #417 | ||||
| 1898 | #680 | ||||
| 1899 | #407 | ||||
| 1900 | #566 | ||||
| 1901 | #429 | ||||
| 1902 | #418 | ||||
| 1903 | #560 | ||||
| 1904 | #363 | ||||
| 1905 | #437 | ||||
| 1906 | #458 | ||||
| 1907 | #382 | ||||
| 1908 | #431 | ||||
| 1909 | #441 | ||||
| 1910 | #426 | ||||
| 1911 | #345 | ||||
| 1912 | #382 | ||||
| 1913 | #349 | ||||
| 1914 | #312 | ||||
| 1915 | #320 | ||||
| 1916 | #304 | ||||
| 1917 | #332 | ||||
| 1918 | #315 | ||||
| 1919 | #317 | ||||
| 1920 | #319 | ||||
| 1921 | #273 | ||||
| 1922 | #284 | ||||
| 1923 | #270 | ||||
| 1924 | #253 | ||||
| 1925 | #263 | ||||
| 1926 | #282 | ||||
| 1927 | #273 | ||||
| 1928 | #272 | ||||
| 1929 | #296 | ||||
| 1930 | #275 | ||||
| 1931 | #266 | ||||
| 1932 | #259 | ||||
| 1933 | #276 | ||||
| 1934 | #273 | ||||
| 1935 | #275 | ||||
| 1936 | #269 | ||||
| 1937 | #296 | ||||
| 1938 | #283 | ||||
| 1939 | #299 | ||||
| 1940 | #330 | ||||
| 1941 | #309 | ||||
| 1942 | #321 | ||||
| 1943 | #326 | ||||
| 1944 | #357 | ||||
| 1945 | #333 | ||||
| 1946 | #354 | ||||
| 1947 | #375 | ||||
| 1948 | #381 | ||||
| 1949 | #379 | ||||
| 1950 | #407 | ||||
| 1951 | #388 | ||||
| 1952 | #385 | ||||
| 1953 | #424 | ||||
| 1954 | #440 | ||||
| 1955 | #421 | ||||
| 1956 | #476 | ||||
| 1957 | #474 | ||||
| 1958 | #496 | ||||
| 1959 | #535 | ||||
| 1960 | #518 | ||||
| 1961 | #526 | ||||
| 1962 | #513 | ||||
| 1963 | #555 | ||||
| 1964 | #569 | ||||
| 1965 | #587 | ||||
| 1966 | #616 | ||||
| 1967 | #608 | ||||
| 1968 | #639 | ||||
| 1969 | #711 | ||||
| 1970 | #706 | ||||
| 1971 | #776 | ||||
| 1972 | #738 | ||||
| 1973 | #826 | ||||
| 1974 | #965 | ||||
| 1975 | #859 | ||||
| 1976 | #862 | ||||
| 1977 | #945 | ||||
| 1978 | #985 | ||||
| 1979 | #930 | ||||
| 1980 | #976 | ||||
| 1981 | #925 | ||||
| 1982 | #937 | ||||
| 2013 | #846 | #878 | #376 | ||
| 2014 | #942 | #930 | |||
| 2015 | #822 | #705 | #642 | #924 | |
| 2016 | #829 | #770 | #311 | #943 | |
| 2017 | #788 | #576 | #408 | #946 | |
| 2018 | #744 | #974 | #996 | ||
| 2019 | #818 | #969 | |||
| 2020 | #692 | #652 | #329 | #784 | |
| 2021 | #638 | #625 | #756 | ||
| 2022 | #728 | #585 | |||
| 2023 | #654 | #671 | #815 | #763 | |
| 2024 | #666 | #586 | #843 | #594 | |
| 2025 | #617 | #505 | #787 | ||
| 2012 | #965 | ||||
| 1992 | #965 | ||||
| 1996 | #868 | ||||
| 2009 | #805 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Harlan
Names Similar to Harlan
Nicknames for Harlan
- Har
- Harl
- Lan
- Harley
Famous People Named Harlan
| Harlan Ellison | American author and screenwriter |
| Harlan Coben | American thriller novelist |
| Harlan F. Stone | 12th Chief Justice of the United States |
| Harlan Howard | American country songwriter |
| Harlan Mathews | American politician and U.S. Senator |
| Harlan Cleveland | American diplomat and sociologist |
| Harlan Thompson | American Olympic medalist in athletics |
| Harlan Tarbell | American magician and writer |
| Harlan Logan | American football player |
| Harlan Miller | American baseball player |
| Harlan Anderson | American engineer and inventor |
| Harlan T. Bobo | American singer-songwriter |
| Harlan Crow | American businessman and philanthropist |
| Harlan Hatcher | American educator and university administrator |
| Harlan Hagen | American painter and sculptor |
| Harlan Williams | Canadian actor and comedian |
| Harlan Greene | American historian and writer |
| Harlan County, Jr. | American musician and record producer |
| Harlan E. Moore | American attorney and judge |
| Harlan D. Sanders | Founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken - KFC |
Characters Named Harlan
| Harlan Wade | Character from the video game series "F.E.A.R" |
| Harlan Dexter | Character in the movie "Get Shorty" |
| Harlan Judd | Character from the TV series "Shark" |
| Harlan Edisons | Character in the TV series "Alphas" |
| Harlan Carson | Character from the TV series "The Walking Dead" |
| Harlan King | Character from the TV series "The Mentalist" |
| Harlan Adams | Character from the movie "Hard Rain" |
| Harlan Bell | Character from the movie "The Peanut Butter Falcon" |
| Harlan Williams | Character from the movie "The Manchurian Candidate" |
| Harlan Dean | Character from the TV series "Twin Peaks" |
| Harlan Black | Character from the book series "The Executioner" |
| Harlan Draka | Character from the book series "The Horus Heresy" |
| Harlan Doyle | Character from the TV series "Eureka" |
| Harlan Flick | Character from the book "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" by Stephen King |
| Harlan Singer | Character from the TV series "CSI - Miami" |
| Harlan B. Hollis | Character from the movie "Double Impact" |
| Harlan Rook | Character from the TV series "Supernatural" |
| Harlan Ray | Character from the TV series "Justified" |
| Harlan G. Emple | Character from the movie "End of Days" |
| Harlan Stone | Character from the movie "The Way of the Gun" |