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Harper

♀ Girl

Pronounced HAR-per /ˈhɑːr.pər/High

Meaning: Harp player; one who plays the harp; harperHigh

In 30 seconds: An Old English occupational surname meaning 'harp player,' Harper shifted from surname to fashionable first name in the 21st century, riding a wave of surname-as-name popularity.

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Origin HighOld English

MeaningHarp player; one who plays the harp; harper

U.S. rank (2025)#16 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births6,792 girls (0.42% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2016

Total births (all-time)≈ 139,006

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Harper is an Old English occupational surname derived from hearpere, a person who played the harp. Harps were important instruments in medieval English and Welsh culture, and harp players were often significant figures in courts and noble households.

As a surname, Harper was common in Britain and Ireland. As a given name it was rare until the late 20th century when surname-to-first-name trends accelerated. It entered the U.S. girls' top 100 around 2004 and rose sharply, partly influenced by author Harper Lee's cultural stature. It reached the top ten girls' names in the 2010s.

Did you know? Harper is best known as the surname of Nelle Harper Lee (1926–2016), author of To Kill a Mockingbird (1960), one of the most celebrated American novels. She went by her middle name Harper, boosting its literary cachet.

Variations

HarpurHarpyr

Nicknames

HarpHarpy

Famous Bearers

★Harper Lee (1926–2016)
American novelist, author of To Kill a Mockingbird.

If you like Harper…

Quinn— equally crisp surname-derived modern girls' name

Hayden— similar surname-origin with the same breezy feel

Peyton— another surname-turned-girls'-name rising together

Hunter— echoes that soft -er sound

Ember— shares Harper's Old English roots

Frequently Asked

What does the name Harper mean?

Harper is an Old English occupational surname meaning 'harp player' — one who played the harp, an important instrument in medieval culture.

How do you pronounce Harper?

Harper is pronounced HAR-per /ˈhɑːr.pər/ — two syllables, with stress on the first.

Is Harper a boy or girl name?

Harper was historically a surname used for both sexes, but in the U.S. it is now used overwhelmingly as a girl's name.

How popular is Harper?

Harper entered the U.S. top ten girls' names around 2015 and has remained there, cementing its place as one of the leading modern girls' names.