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Harlan

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Harlan Pronunciation

Harlan is pronounced HAR-lən /ˈhɑr.lən/High

Meaning: From an English place name, 'hare land' or 'rocky land' (Old English hara + land), via the surnameMedium

In 30 seconds: A surname with a Supreme Court robe and a county in Kentucky: Harlan — 'hare land' by likeliest reading — crosses to girls with the Harper-Marlowe set. Quietly literary, freshly feminine.

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Origin MediumEnglish

MeaningFrom an English place name, 'hare land' or 'rocky land' (Old English hara + land), via the surname

U.S. rank (2024)#3522 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births44 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2023

Total births (all-time)≈ 463

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Harlan comes from an English place name — Old English hara, 'hare', plus land, or a 'rocky land' reading — that became a surname carried by two Supreme Court justices and bestselling novelist Harlan Coben. As a girls' first name it rides the surname-for-daughters wave with Harper and Sloane.

It registers thinly for girls in recent records. Rare, brainy, and Harper-adjacent.

Did you know? Justice John Marshall Harlan was the lone dissenter in Plessy v. Ferguson, writing that 'our Constitution is color-blind' — giving this surname a place in civil-rights history.

Overall data confidence 75%

Dictionary of American Family Names — Harlan — surname origin, debated

Variations

HarlandHarlenHarlyn

Nicknames

HarlieLan

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Harlan…

Harper— the flagship surname-for-girls of the era

Marlowe— a fellow literary surname for daughters

Sloane— the sleek companion crossover

Emerson— another surname claimed by girls

→ See all names like Harlan

Browse the whole category: All English names → · All origins →

Frequently Asked

How do you pronounce Harlan?

Harlan is pronounced HAR-lən (/ˈhɑr.lən/). Press play above to hear Harlan said aloud.

How do you say Harlan?

Harlan is said HAR-lən (/ˈhɑr.lən/). Press play above to hear Harlan said aloud.

What does the name Harlan mean?

Harlan comes from an English place name meaning 'hare land' or 'rocky land', via the surname.

Is Harlan a boy or girl name?

Harlan is mostly a boy's name; this page covers its growing use for girls.

How popular is Harlan?

Harlan is a rare name for girls in the U.S.